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14
In my annual report for 1903 I pointed out how grossly
inadequate are the measures at present taken by the milk
vendors generally throughout the country to provide the public
with pure milk. I have constantly impressed on parents the
absolute necessity of using nothing but efficiently boiled milk
for their children, especially during the months of August and
September, the time at which these cases occur with fatal
regularity. The difficulty is to arouse sufficient interest among
the poorer classes, who are those who suffer most.
I suggest as an additional measure this year that the Corporation
should have large posters displayed in the town and
in prominent places in the poorer districts calling attention to
the danger to which infants and young children are exposed
through want of necessarv precautions.
In the hot months of the year, the milkman who on his rounds
would supplv to those of his customers who require it freshly
boiled or pasteurised milk, instead of stale milk laden with
preservatives, might extend his business and gain some credit
bv supplying an article of food which, although not free from
objection would be far safer for consumption than the poisonous
supply at present given us.
What is really needed is the prohibition by law of the use
of any kind of preservative whatever in milk. The farmers
who send their milk by rail would be thus compelled in their
own interests to see that the milk was collected in a cleanly
manner, and was subjected to refrigeration and cold storage
before and during distribution. The prohibition of the use of
preservatives would have more effect in promoting cleanlv
methods in the dairy farms than the system of compulsory