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37
The Vestry co-operated with the Vestry of Battersea in
forwarding certain objections to the Local Government Board
concerning the Sale of Food and Drugs Bill then before Parliament.
These objections related chiefly to the addition of preservatives
in butter and milk, and to the administration of the Act being
in the hands of the Chemical Department of Somerset House.
The Vestry advocated a Court of Reference for such matters as
suggested by a Select Committee of the House of Commons in
1896. The Bill was made law and came into operation on January
1, 1900. A special report upon the Act was furnished by Mr.
J. Kear Colwell, the Public Analyst on January 1, 1900, and a
circular calling attention to the provisions of the Act, was sent to
tradesmen and others in the Parish who will be affected by it.
In view of the danger to the public health by the spread of tuberculosis
by means of milk and cream, especially in the case of young
children, invalids and others depending largely upon a milk diet,
the Vestry joined in 1899 with the Vestries of Westminster,
Chelsea and Hackney in commending the subject to the serious
consideration of the Local Government Board and the Board of
Agriculture. The Vestry urged upon the Boards that legislation
should be promoted for preventing the sale of such tuberculous
milk and for the regulation of dairies—cleanliness, ventilation,
good order, and inspection of cows. The Vestry also unite with
the Medical Officer of the London County Council in the view that
articles directly derived from milk, such as ice-cream, Polish
cheese, etc., should be placed upon the same footing in all respects
as milk. There is very little doubt that though in the manufacture
of ice cream, for example, the substance is boiled and therefore
sterilized, that contamination readily occurs owing to storage in
crowded living and sleeping rooms.