1904.] Physical Deterioration Committee. 307 



agricultural experiments and other subjects of educational in- 

 terest ; it holds occasional meetings ; organises excursions to 

 agricultural shows and experiment stations ; and publishes a 

 report of its proceedings, which contains the essays for which 

 prizes have been awarded. Such associations, as a means of 

 keeping old students in touch with each other and as an agency 

 for stimulating after-college reading and research, are most 

 useful. 



In reply to a question in the House of Commons, Mr. 



Arnold Forster said that under paragraph 160 of the King's 



Regulations, General Officers Commanding 



Employment of are given power to use their discretion in 

 Soldiers fop „ . , ,. t , , . 



Harvesting". allowing soldiers to be employed in the 



harvest work provided the employment of 



the population's not thereby interfered with. 



The importance of a sufficient supply of good cow's milk as 

 a factor in the health of the people came under the considera- 

 tion of the Departmental Committee on 



Deterioration Ph >' sica ' 1 Deterioration, and with a view of 

 Committee. ensuring the purity of the supply the Com- 

 mittee recommend the general application 

 of the permissive provisions of the Contagious Diseases (Animals) 

 Act, 1878. The Local Government Board under that Act may 

 make orders, or may authorise a local authority to make orders, 

 for the registration of cow-keepers, dairymen, &c. ; for the 

 inspection of cattle in dairies ; for prescribing the lighting, 

 ventilation, drainage, &c, of dairies and cowsheds ; for securing 

 the cleanliness of milk stores, shops and vessels ; and for pre- 

 scribing precautions for protecting milk against infection or 

 contamination. The Committee think that in default of the 

 local sanitary authority taking proper precautions the County 

 Council should in all cases be authorised to act, and in the 

 ultimate resort it should be the duty of the Local Government 



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