THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1881. THE MILK QUESTION.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2283, 27 July 1881, Page 2

THE GLOBE. WEDNESDAY, JULY 27, 1881. THE MILK QUESTION.

It is, wo think, to be regretted that the Solicitor-General, to whom the question of the power of the Board of Health with regard to the licensing of dairies was submitted, did not more carefully consider the point before giving an opinion. For some inscrutable reason, known only to the legal profession, his latest utterances are totally at variance with the opinion formerly sent. He now inclines to the belief entertained by the members of the Board of Health, that extended powers are required to enable them to deal with the question. Thus we find that a great deal of valuable time has been lost by this halting between two opinions, and, after all, the Board have to go to the Legislature for extended powers to enable them to prevent the dissemination amongst onr families of the seeds of disease, and, probably, death. The Government, for some reason or other, do not soem to consider the subject of such vital importance as it really is. They have hitherto treated the requests of the Chairman of the Board with a sort of cavalier indifference, as though really the question of an epidemic breaking out here, and the sacrifice of perhaps a score or more of valuable lives, was but a small consideration compared with the question of who was to sit on the Government benches. We trust that the Chairman of the Board—who, by-the-bye, deserves the thanks of the public for his prompt and zealous action in this matter—when heforwards the draft of the proposed amendments to the Health Act, will put the case so stongly to the Government that they will bo awakened from the apathy which seems to beset them on this question. It is no mere point of local requirement; it may mean life or death to a large section of the community, and wo cannot help expressing onr opinion that, up to the present, most reprehensible neglect has been shown by the Government in the matter. So far from aiding the efforts of the Board, the action of the Government has been—whether designedly or not we cannot say—calculated to thwart the steps taken by the Board towards the preservation of the public health. Wo are pleased to find that the Board have done at last what we pointed out should have been done some time back, viz., instructed an inspection to be made of the dairies in, the district by the Inspector of Nuisances. The report of the Medical Officer of Health read at the last meeting shows how necessary this is. He states that, in seven new cases of typhoid, the milk supplied to the families came from seven different dairies. This, to our mind, proves most conclusively that the contamination of milk is far more widely spread than we have any idea or knowledge of. It seems, therefore, absolutely necessary, not only that a rigid inspection should bo made, but that more than this should be done. The report of the Inspector, in the ordinary course of business, will not come before the Board, and, consequently, the public for a fortnight. Now, during that period hundreds of persons may unknowingly be imbibing the typhoid poison in their milk. The researches of the Inspector, if intelligently conducted, should reveal those dairies where, from the existence of circumstances, typhoid is communicated to the milk. But, unless some extraordinary steps are taken, the names of these milk vendors will remain bottled up for fourteen days, though they still continue to dispense what, in this case, is nothing more nor less than liquid poison. What we should suggest is that the chairman of the Board instruct the Inspector to report as early as possible fully upon all dairies in the district, and (hat, without waiting for the ordinary meeting of the Board of Health, publicity should at once be given, not only to the report, but to the names of those vendors of milk on whose premises the cause of typhoid germs exists. This

would enable tho public to he on their guard as to who they dealt with. But, further still, those persons should at once ha stopped selling milk until the necessary improvements were carried out to the satisfaction of the Medical Officer. Unless this is done the action of the Board will much resemble locking the stable door after tho steed is stolen. To know that, perhaps, in nine or ten cases vendors of milk are morning and night engaged in disseminating disease, and allow this to go on for a fortnight unchecked, would, in our opinion, bo the height of folly. IMMATURE FISH. The subject of bringing to market fish of such small size as to bo unfit for food has been discussed in tho Solwyn County Council, and they have agreed to call the attention of the authorities thereto. Wo should just like to point out that tho most effectual method of stopping this, traffic would bo to fine heavily any one having in his possession for salo fish below a certain size. To attempt to supervise the fishermen would be a costly and wo believe ineffectual, remedy. But if it is made prohibitive on the dealers to purchase fish of a certain size, yon then take away any incentive to the fishermen to bring these small fish to town. Until this is done, wo do not see how the evil can bo stopped effectually. If the source -of profit bo stopped, the fishermen will take care not to bring any bat of a lawful size.