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14
Milk and Food Supply.
There is, I am glad to say, continued improvement in the
condition of the dairies and places where milk is sold in the district.
Greater powers are, however, urgently called for, and premises
ought not to be registered for the sale or storage of milk unless
defined conditions are first complied with.
Great trouble has been taken to protect the health of the few
adults who are employed in underground bakehouses, but we have
really little power to protect the community from dirt infection of
milk.
Anxiety is always manifested at the possibility of the accidental
and occasional dissemination of specific infection by milk, yet there
is curious apathy concerning the almost constant distribution of
microscopic dirt.
An instance of the accidental dissemination of a specific infection
by milk is referred to in the section of this report which deals
with infectious disease. It should be stated that the occurrence,
which affected both Wandsworth and this district, was not in any
way due to local conditions, and could not have been prevented by
local action.
It may, however, be justly claimed that it was by local action
that the facts were ascertained at the earliest possible moment,
and that what might have been a very serious affair was brought
to an end speedily without loss of life.
Premises where food other than milk is prepared,
stored, or exposed for sale, and the articles of food
therein, are kept under frequent observation.
In one case the preparation of ham, beef, &c., for sale was
found to be carried on under very unsatisfactory conditions, but on
my intervention drastic changes were at once made by the owner.