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introduced through cows' milk. Cows' milk containing bovine tubercle bacilli is
clearly a cause of tuberculosis and of fatal tuberculosis in man."
"Our results clearly point to the necessity of measures more stringent than
those at present enforced being taken to prevent the sale or the consumption of such
milk."
IV.—Summary of other Sanitary Proceedings, etc., which were
taken during the year.
Housing of the Working Classes.—The usual systematic house to house
inspection of the houses of the working classes has been carried on during the year,
and the necessary alterations and repairs required to remedy any insanitary defects
found to exist have been enforced.
The great number of such defects occurring in houses which have been
comparatively recently erected has from time to time engaged the attention of the
Sanitary Committee, and without doubt we have within the last few years seen
some fine efforts of the jerry builder in solving the problem of " how to build
wretched and ill-found property in spite of the bye-laws." This class of building,
unable to withstand the necessary wear and tear, is likely to become in a few years
a serious legacy to the Sanitary Department, requiring its constant attention to keep
them in such a condition as not to be inimical to the health of their inhabitants.
By the adoption of the new bye-laws for buildings it is to be hoped that more
stringent provisions may enable the Council to limit the undesirable efforts of such
builders.
Four cases of overcrowding in houses were found, and the nuisance abated.
Removal of House Refuse.—This is undertaken by the Council, and is
conveyed either to land adjoining the Sewage Farm or other available shoot. I am
informed by the Sanitary Inspector that 5,989 loads of the refuse were removed
during the year, as compared with 5,930 during the previous year.
As to the " Supervision which was exercised over Places and Houses
that the Sanitary Authority has power to regulate."
Slaughterhouses.—These were visited on several occasions during the year,
and found to be in a satisfactory condition as regards cleanliness. No offences
against the bye-laws were noted.
Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops.—These places were frequently visited, and
the Dairies and Milkshops were found to be generally kept in good condition.
Improvement was manifested in the way in which the animals were housed in most
of the cowsheds, since the action taken during the previous year to prevent overcrowding
and promote cleanliness. The passing of the milk through a proper
refrigerator is not at present adopted by some of the cowkeepers, and as a Sanitary
Authority has not the power to demand this it is desirable that purchasers should
insist on it for themselves. Experience has shown that if fresh milk be cooled
immediately after drawing, put into properly cleaned vessels and kept cool in
transit, changes in the milk which may be a source of great danger to life, especially
in infants and during hot seasons, may be largely prevented. The changes
occurring in milk, either from the admission of putrescent matter either at the
farm, in transit, or in the hands of the consumer, is a recognised important factor
in the production of Summer Diarrhoea Probably the handling of the milk by the
consumer is the most frequent source of dirt, in the unclean vessels, hands, or places
in which it is kept before using, but it is very essential that a clean milk supply
should be insisted on by the Sanitary Authority.