president's address — SECTION I. 187 



least desirability, of having both dark and cool storage for water. 

 Service reservoirs should always be covered, and distributing mains 

 laid low enough in the ground, and house pipes kept from direct 

 sunshine. 



A matter connected with coiuitry rather than town Avater supply 

 that I should like to see taken into consideration is the probable 

 influence of rain-water drinking on our population. Are there not 

 signs that it is being physically affected by its use of soft-water 

 drinking ? 



The whole matter of water supply should be in the hands of the 

 health authorities. But even when it is, there is none the less a 

 necessity for constant inspection. The services, both chemical 

 and microscopical, of the analyst should be exercised not only in 

 connection with the choice of a supply, but continuously afterwards 

 in connection with the water actually drawn out of the household 

 taps. Constant inspection, both for the prevention of pollution 

 and for the detection of it when it does occur, is still more needed 

 when a communit}- is dependent for its water supply iipon a variety 

 of sources, such as wells, small streams, and rain-water tanks. 



"With regard to the meat supply of a people, the most' effective 

 way to control its wholesomeness is to provi()e properly designed 

 and built public slaughter-houses, in which alone should be allowed 

 the slaughtering of animals intended for food. In such establish- 

 ments the measiu'es to be taken to ])revent the use of unwholesome 

 meat, and meat that may be the vehicle of the contagium of diseases 

 that are communicable from animals to man, can be most easily and 

 effectively carried out : and so also can those for preventing the 

 nuisances that usually accompany the keeping and killing of animals. 



Too much attention cannot be paid to the sources of the milk 

 supply of a people. The results of thorough ortinnisation and 

 inspection are well exemplified in Denmark. The people of 

 Copenhagen have not only the best milk supply of any large 

 community, but the dairy produce commands — and deservedly 

 commands — the best price in the largest markets in the world. 

 This with some peo[)le is the ultimate gauge of success, and pre- 

 cautionary measures which might be characterised as excessively 

 stringent, when taken merely for protecting human life, are held 

 to be justified by their influence on the far more important matter 

 of commercial profit. Some of our colonies have special laws 

 dealing with dairies from the standpoint of public health. Others 

 are trying to open a trade with England for butter and cheese. 

 The securing of absolute cleanliness is the most important factor 

 in the securing of success in regard to both these matters. 



The inspection of milch kine is also very necessary. However 

 much medical opinions may vary as to the dangers attending the 

 consumption of the meat of tuberculous cattle, I think there is no 

 difference of opinion as to the necessity of preventing the use of 

 the milk of tuberculous cows. 



