414 MILK AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH chap. 



local authority in whose district his premises are situated, 

 calling their attention to the breach of their own regulations. 



The carrying out of systematic bacteriological examinations 

 and the provision of inspectors would not be a costly business. 

 Tliis plan would have the great advantage that the cost of 

 working it would fall on those who benefit, and not, as now, 

 on those who are out of pocket by it. The urban authorities 

 which neglected their powers would have the dirty milk ; or, 

 much better, it should be made compulsory for all urban 

 authorities to exercise these powers in the same way as a 

 minimum number of food and drug samples are required to 

 be taken. 



It may incidentally be remarked that to ensure a reason- 

 ably clean milk supply bacteriological examinations are essential 

 and nothing can take their place. Some authorities write as 

 if regular sanitary, and particularly veterinary inspection, 

 is sufficient and eiiicient to ensure clean milk. However 

 thoroughly this is done, and however vigorously their findings 

 are backed up by the authority appointing them, they cannot 

 ensure a clean milk supply, although, of course, they can do 

 much. This is obvious since clean milking is a process, and 

 while bad buildings and surroundings may render clean milk 

 impossible, their presence cannot ensure it. Detection of 

 dirty procedures is only possible by bacteriological examina- 

 tion. It is also just the improvements in the personal methods 

 of milking which the writer has found so difficult to obtain. 

 Johastone,^ inspecting Sherborne Rural District, records the 

 same difficulty. He remarks : " The dairy-farmers were more 

 opposed to reform in the personal methods of their milkers 

 than to any proposition in the way of improved ventilation 

 and drainage in the cowsheds." 



On the other hand, bacteriological examination alone is 

 inadequate. Bacteriological standards as fixed methods for 

 judging milk and as a direct basis for administrative action 

 are, in the writer's opinion, unsatisfactory and are not advocated 

 (see Chapter XIV.). Bacteriological methods, combined with 

 inspections and investigations, must go hand in hand, the 

 former serving as a guide and also a check upon the latter. 



3. It may be advanced that the procedure suggested would 



' Report of Medical Officer, Local Governinent Board, 1907-8, p. 96. 



