76 REPORT OF THE No. 55 



and that the interests of the public are fully considered. The first object seems to 

 be to serve the public, and from what I saw, the mere making of profits is not con- 

 sidered the main business of the company. The second thing that impresses one is 

 the easy and thorough manner in which the best results are accomplished, without 

 the laying down of exacting and rigorous regulations. It is made easy and advan- 

 tageous for producers to produce good milk and for the employers of the company 

 to give faithful service. At the time of my visit, extensive alterations and additions 

 were being made to the London premises in Bayswater, a good indication of the 

 growth of the business, showing an appreciation on the part of the public. 



The supply of milk is drawn mainly from Cheshire, from farms on the estates 

 of the Duke of Westminster and Lord Tollemache, where the steadings are models 

 of dairy construction. I was told that modern up-to-date buildings are to be found 

 on these farms. Unfortunately, owing to other engagements, I was unable to take 

 advantage of Mr. Hattersley's kind arrangements for my inspecting some of the 

 farms. The farthest point of production is nearly 170 miles from London. Special 

 milk trains are run on the Great Western Railway, picking up the cans, which are 

 delivered at the stations from many branch lines. 



When a farmer offers to supply milk to the Company, he is furnished with 

 a list of questions as' to the sanitary conditions of the farm, etc. If 

 the answers are satisfactory, the Company sends its Medical Inspector to inspect 

 the farm. He is invariably the Medical Officer of Health for the District, and 

 consequently is cognizant of the state of health of the locality and has immediate 

 knowledge of all cases of infectious disease. He makes, at the Company's expense, 

 an exhaustive report covering the whole field of sanitation and drainage, the per- 

 sonal health of the farmer and his family, of the farm hands and their families, and 

 also of the general health of the district. He also sends for analysis in the Com- 

 pany's laboratory samples of the water used in the dairy for washing the utensils 

 and for refrigeration. Great stress is laid upon the question of pure water for all 

 purposes, for watering the stock, for cleansing and for refrigeration. Then the 

 Veterinary Surgeon is asked to mak a report upon the health of every member of 

 the herd. All tuberculous animals must be removed. When satisfactory reports 

 are received from the Medical Officer and the Veterinary, a contract is sent to the 

 farmer to be filled out and signed, fixing the approximate amounts of 

 milk to be sent during each month, the price to be paid for same 

 (which is a matter of arrangement between the Managing Director and the 

 farmers), and requires the farmer to keep the Company fully informed as to the 

 health of his animals and all persons in any way connected with his farm. There 

 is no inducement to concealment, for if through any cause the milk from any 

 animal or from the whole herd is withheld because of sickness, the Company agrees 

 to pay full price for all such milk. The Veterinary makes regular examinations of 

 the herd and the Medical Health Officer keeps a close watch upon the health of 

 the farmer, his help and their families. Reports are received at the Company's* 

 office and filed for reference. Any person is permitted to fe'ee these reports. The 

 veterinary reports are submitted to Sir John McFadyean, Principal of the Royal 

 Veterinary College. The water is examined by the Company's chemists twice a 

 year at lea?t, oftener if necessary. The Company has its own standard, viz., 3.25 

 of fat and 8.75 of other solids. An examination of the records' showed that the 

 milk of December, 1908, varied from 3.58 to 4.29 per cent, fat; that for May, 1909, 

 varied from 3.19 to 3.81 per cent, butter fat. The average for 1908 was 3.75, the 

 same as for 1907. Every can is tested on arrival for specific gravity and every 



