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Milk circular 325
Public Health THE JOURNAL OF
The Society of Medical Officers of Health. No. 5.
FEBRUARY, 1923.
l ditorial.
S u b s c r i p t i o n price, 21s, per a n n u m , p o s t free in advance. S i n g l e copies, Is. 8d., p o s t free. THE
CONTENTb. EDITORIAL~
The Case for the Scale Milk Circular 825
............
117
...............
117
SPECIAL ARTI(~LES~
Association of County Me,ileal Officers of Health
118
The Influence of Military Service on Hygiene
(By Major-Gcnera~ Sir William Macpherson, K.C.M.G., C.B., LL.D.) ......... Prevention
119
of Algae in Storage Tanks (By
Alfred AdaTns, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Su2berintendent, Liverfiool Sanatorium, Delamere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
128
VOL. XXXVI.
CASE
FOR
THE
SCALE.
T i l e a t t e n t i o n of m e m b e r s of t h e S o c i e t y o f M e d i c a l Officers o f H e a l t h is d i r e c t e d t o t h e s t a t e m e n t p u b l i s h e d o n p a g e 138, w h i c h s u m m a r i s e s t h e a r g u m e n t s in f a v o u r of a S c a l e o f S a l a r i e s f o r the Public Health Service. D u r i n g t h e n e x t six m o n t h s t h e S c a l e will b e d i s c u s s e d b y e v e r y D i v i sion of t h e B r i t i s h M e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , a n d t h e y s h o u l d m a k e it t h e i r b u s i n e s s t o a t t e n d t h e m e e t i n g s of t h e D i v i s i o n t o w h i c h t h e y b e l o n g a n d t o explain any points which may not be clear to their c o l l e a g u e s in p r i v a t e p r a c t i c e . I f t h e f a c t s set o u t o n p a g e 1 3 8 a r e t h u s b r o u g h t t o t h e n o t i c e of t h e B . M . A . D i v i s i o n s w e s h a l l feel n o m i s g i v i n g s r e g a r d i n g t h e f a t e of t h e S c a l e w h e n it is s u b mitted to the Annual Representative Meeting of t h e A s s o c i a t i o n t o b e h e l d a t P o r t s m o u t h in J u l y next.
Damage (By J. Johnstone Jervis, M.D. ,D.P.H.,
Medical Officer of Health, Leed~
......
130
NOTES FROM BRANCHES--
Evidence
The Metropolitan Branch ......... The IIome Counties Branch ......... Midland Branch ...............
184 135 135
SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF H E A L T H - -
Council Meeting ......... The Case for the Scale . . . . . . The Metropolitan Branch ... Metropolitan Branch ...... Northern Branch ......... North-Western Branch ...... Yorkshire Branch . . . . . . . . . Midland Branch ......... School Medical Group ......
MILK
...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......
136 138 14,3 144 14"4 14.6 146 14.6 147
NOTES-Infant Welfare - - Post-Graduate COUrSe Of ...... Lectures ......... ...... National Baby Week Council ... ... .. West African Medical Services ...
148 148 148
against
CIRCULAR the
325.
extraordinary
Circular
325 c o n t i n u e s t o a c c u m u l a t e . The Clerk to the D u r h a m C o u n t y C o u n c i l h a s a d d r e s s e d t h e following letter to the Ministry: " I was directed by the Durham County Council at their meeting held on the 8th instant to forward the following observations on C i r c u l a r 325 :--" T h e s u b j e c t of a d u l t e r a t i o n in g e n e r a l a n d of n e w m i l k in p a r t i c u l a r h a s b e e n m a d e t h e subject of special study and special administrat i o n in t h e C o u n t y o f D u r h a m , a n d t h e C o u n c i l r e g r e t t o h a v e t o s t a t e t h a t , in t h e i r o p i n i o n , t h e C i r c u l a r is a d e c i d e d r e t r o g r a d e s t e p a n d a n inc i t e m e n t t o m i l k a d u l t e r a t i o n , w h e r e a v e n d o r is so inclined. " T h e C i r c u l a r will u n d o u b t e d l y b e u s e d ~ b y t h e l e g a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f d e f e n d a n t s in o r d e r tQ o v e r t h r o w t h e o p i n i o n o f L o c a l A n a l y s t s a n d !~SeN~ O m c l a l s , a n d i n v i e w of t h e f a c t t h a t m a n y
I ~8
FEBRUARY,
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Farmers' Associations and the like permanently retain their own legal advisers who special]se in this branch of law, it appears that convictions will be very difficult to obtain except in cases of exceptional gravity. " During a very recent period of three months, 105 samples of milk were obtained in this Administrative County, but it was not necessary to institute proceedings in any case, and it is submitted that this satisfactory state of affairs was only brought about by the watchful and tactful administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts in accordance with the Law and Regulations which were in existence prior to tl~e publication of Circular 325. T a k i n g these 105 cases as an example of the detrimental effect of the Circular in question, all these vendors would, according to the effect of the Circular, be able to commence to adulterate their milk and to contlnue adulterating it without risk of prosecution and punishment until 'a series of tests have shown repeated d e f a u l t ' in each of these cases. The result would be that, generally speaking, the whole of the milk supply in the County would suffer and we, as a Local Authority, would be powerless to protect the interests of the community until a time had elapsed by the taking of a series of tests showing repeated default. " The Law and Regulations existing prior to the issue of Circular 325 have on the whole worked well in this County which, coupled with an efficient administration thereof by the Officials of the County Council, have resulted in maintaining a high standard of milk, and the County Council view with apprehension in a thicldy populated industrial County like Durham, the probable results of the administration of this Circular. " The honest milk vendor is amply protected, as the Durham County Council are always willing to consider exceptional circumstances in his favour, and the Officials here have no desire to obtain convictions merely for t~e sake of obtaining them. It is, however, felt strongly that the Circular in question operates favourably in ti~e case of unscrupulous milk selIers, who will nmv find a means of enriching themselves at the cost of the community with less risk Of punishment than has hitherto been the case. "I am therefore directed to express the strong disar~proval of the Durham County Council of Circular 32~ and to ask the Minister to give instructions to have the Circular unreservedly wlthdrawn without delay. ~ The clreular laas also been considered by the ganltary ~ommittee of the Corporation of
London, and the Town Clerk has forwardcd the following letter to the Ministry : - " I have the honour to inform you that the Sanitary Committee of the Corporation have had udder consideration Circular No. 325 issued by the Ministry of Health on the 17th July last, tog e t h e r with a report by the Medical Officer of Health for the City of London (Dr. "vV. J. Howarth, C.B.E.), on the subject, with which the Committee agreed, and I was directed to forward you a cop)" of the said Report and to express the hope that the Minister of Health will see his way to withdraw the dircul)tl- {n qtmst~on.,, A S S O C I A T I O N OF C O U N T Y M E D I C A L OFFICERS OF HEALTH. ANNUAL DINNER. The Association of County Medical Officers of Health for England and Wales met on the 15th December, 1992, in Pagani's Rooms, Great Portland Street, London, at their first social function or dinner since the creation of the Conference in 1906 which preceded the formation of the Association in 1914. Dr. G. Reid (Staffs.) occupied the chair, and the guest was Sir George Newman. Thirty-two members were presen t . After the toast t)f " Th~ K i n g , " ~heP/~esident, in proposing '~ The Guest " (Sir~ George Newman), reviewe d briefly the dvglufi0n 0f tl~e Association, and its relation to legislation,- to the Government Public Health Departments, to the British Medical Association a n d t h e ~Cotlnty Councils' Association. Dr. Reid diagnosed that the times portend to a more onerous position fo~" County Medical Officers. Dr. Bostock Hill, who supported the President in the proposal of the toast, eulogised the work of Sir George Newman as a friend, adviser and colleague, and in all these capacities he had, without doubt, won the affection of the members of the Public Health Service. Sir George Newman replied in a terse and pithy speech, in which he reviewed his work and relationship to the profession. He felt amply rewarded by the friendship returned by the County Medical Officers of Health. The evening proved most enjoyable and created an unanimous demand for a repetition of the dinner annually. The next congress of the Royal Sanitary Institute will be held at Hull from 30th July to 4th August, t923, by invitation of the mayor and to,am council
The Society of Medical Officers of Health. No. 5.
FEBRUARY, 1923.
l ditorial.
S u b s c r i p t i o n price, 21s, per a n n u m , p o s t free in advance. S i n g l e copies, Is. 8d., p o s t free. THE
CONTENTb. EDITORIAL~
The Case for the Scale Milk Circular 825
............
117
...............
117
SPECIAL ARTI(~LES~
Association of County Me,ileal Officers of Health
118
The Influence of Military Service on Hygiene
(By Major-Gcnera~ Sir William Macpherson, K.C.M.G., C.B., LL.D.) ......... Prevention
119
of Algae in Storage Tanks (By
Alfred AdaTns, M.D., D.P.H., Medical Su2berintendent, Liverfiool Sanatorium, Delamere . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
128
VOL. XXXVI.
CASE
FOR
THE
SCALE.
T i l e a t t e n t i o n of m e m b e r s of t h e S o c i e t y o f M e d i c a l Officers o f H e a l t h is d i r e c t e d t o t h e s t a t e m e n t p u b l i s h e d o n p a g e 138, w h i c h s u m m a r i s e s t h e a r g u m e n t s in f a v o u r of a S c a l e o f S a l a r i e s f o r the Public Health Service. D u r i n g t h e n e x t six m o n t h s t h e S c a l e will b e d i s c u s s e d b y e v e r y D i v i sion of t h e B r i t i s h M e d i c a l A s s o c i a t i o n , a n d t h e y s h o u l d m a k e it t h e i r b u s i n e s s t o a t t e n d t h e m e e t i n g s of t h e D i v i s i o n t o w h i c h t h e y b e l o n g a n d t o explain any points which may not be clear to their c o l l e a g u e s in p r i v a t e p r a c t i c e . I f t h e f a c t s set o u t o n p a g e 1 3 8 a r e t h u s b r o u g h t t o t h e n o t i c e of t h e B . M . A . D i v i s i o n s w e s h a l l feel n o m i s g i v i n g s r e g a r d i n g t h e f a t e of t h e S c a l e w h e n it is s u b mitted to the Annual Representative Meeting of t h e A s s o c i a t i o n t o b e h e l d a t P o r t s m o u t h in J u l y next.
Damage (By J. Johnstone Jervis, M.D. ,D.P.H.,
Medical Officer of Health, Leed~
......
130
NOTES FROM BRANCHES--
Evidence
The Metropolitan Branch ......... The IIome Counties Branch ......... Midland Branch ...............
184 135 135
SOCIETY OF MEDICAL OFFICERS OF H E A L T H - -
Council Meeting ......... The Case for the Scale . . . . . . The Metropolitan Branch ... Metropolitan Branch ...... Northern Branch ......... North-Western Branch ...... Yorkshire Branch . . . . . . . . . Midland Branch ......... School Medical Group ......
MILK
...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ...... ......
136 138 14,3 144 14"4 14.6 146 14.6 147
NOTES-Infant Welfare - - Post-Graduate COUrSe Of ...... Lectures ......... ...... National Baby Week Council ... ... .. West African Medical Services ...
148 148 148
against
CIRCULAR the
325.
extraordinary
Circular
325 c o n t i n u e s t o a c c u m u l a t e . The Clerk to the D u r h a m C o u n t y C o u n c i l h a s a d d r e s s e d t h e following letter to the Ministry: " I was directed by the Durham County Council at their meeting held on the 8th instant to forward the following observations on C i r c u l a r 325 :--" T h e s u b j e c t of a d u l t e r a t i o n in g e n e r a l a n d of n e w m i l k in p a r t i c u l a r h a s b e e n m a d e t h e subject of special study and special administrat i o n in t h e C o u n t y o f D u r h a m , a n d t h e C o u n c i l r e g r e t t o h a v e t o s t a t e t h a t , in t h e i r o p i n i o n , t h e C i r c u l a r is a d e c i d e d r e t r o g r a d e s t e p a n d a n inc i t e m e n t t o m i l k a d u l t e r a t i o n , w h e r e a v e n d o r is so inclined. " T h e C i r c u l a r will u n d o u b t e d l y b e u s e d ~ b y t h e l e g a l r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s o f d e f e n d a n t s in o r d e r tQ o v e r t h r o w t h e o p i n i o n o f L o c a l A n a l y s t s a n d !~SeN~ O m c l a l s , a n d i n v i e w of t h e f a c t t h a t m a n y
I ~8
FEBRUARY,
PUBLIC HEALTH.
Farmers' Associations and the like permanently retain their own legal advisers who special]se in this branch of law, it appears that convictions will be very difficult to obtain except in cases of exceptional gravity. " During a very recent period of three months, 105 samples of milk were obtained in this Administrative County, but it was not necessary to institute proceedings in any case, and it is submitted that this satisfactory state of affairs was only brought about by the watchful and tactful administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts in accordance with the Law and Regulations which were in existence prior to tl~e publication of Circular 325. T a k i n g these 105 cases as an example of the detrimental effect of the Circular in question, all these vendors would, according to the effect of the Circular, be able to commence to adulterate their milk and to contlnue adulterating it without risk of prosecution and punishment until 'a series of tests have shown repeated d e f a u l t ' in each of these cases. The result would be that, generally speaking, the whole of the milk supply in the County would suffer and we, as a Local Authority, would be powerless to protect the interests of the community until a time had elapsed by the taking of a series of tests showing repeated default. " The Law and Regulations existing prior to the issue of Circular 325 have on the whole worked well in this County which, coupled with an efficient administration thereof by the Officials of the County Council, have resulted in maintaining a high standard of milk, and the County Council view with apprehension in a thicldy populated industrial County like Durham, the probable results of the administration of this Circular. " The honest milk vendor is amply protected, as the Durham County Council are always willing to consider exceptional circumstances in his favour, and the Officials here have no desire to obtain convictions merely for t~e sake of obtaining them. It is, however, felt strongly that the Circular in question operates favourably in ti~e case of unscrupulous milk selIers, who will nmv find a means of enriching themselves at the cost of the community with less risk Of punishment than has hitherto been the case. "I am therefore directed to express the strong disar~proval of the Durham County Council of Circular 32~ and to ask the Minister to give instructions to have the Circular unreservedly wlthdrawn without delay. ~ The clreular laas also been considered by the ganltary ~ommittee of the Corporation of
London, and the Town Clerk has forwardcd the following letter to the Ministry : - " I have the honour to inform you that the Sanitary Committee of the Corporation have had udder consideration Circular No. 325 issued by the Ministry of Health on the 17th July last, tog e t h e r with a report by the Medical Officer of Health for the City of London (Dr. "vV. J. Howarth, C.B.E.), on the subject, with which the Committee agreed, and I was directed to forward you a cop)" of the said Report and to express the hope that the Minister of Health will see his way to withdraw the dircul)tl- {n qtmst~on.,, A S S O C I A T I O N OF C O U N T Y M E D I C A L OFFICERS OF HEALTH. ANNUAL DINNER. The Association of County Medical Officers of Health for England and Wales met on the 15th December, 1992, in Pagani's Rooms, Great Portland Street, London, at their first social function or dinner since the creation of the Conference in 1906 which preceded the formation of the Association in 1914. Dr. G. Reid (Staffs.) occupied the chair, and the guest was Sir George Newman. Thirty-two members were presen t . After the toast t)f " Th~ K i n g , " ~heP/~esident, in proposing '~ The Guest " (Sir~ George Newman), reviewe d briefly the dvglufi0n 0f tl~e Association, and its relation to legislation,- to the Government Public Health Departments, to the British Medical Association a n d t h e ~Cotlnty Councils' Association. Dr. Reid diagnosed that the times portend to a more onerous position fo~" County Medical Officers. Dr. Bostock Hill, who supported the President in the proposal of the toast, eulogised the work of Sir George Newman as a friend, adviser and colleague, and in all these capacities he had, without doubt, won the affection of the members of the Public Health Service. Sir George Newman replied in a terse and pithy speech, in which he reviewed his work and relationship to the profession. He felt amply rewarded by the friendship returned by the County Medical Officers of Health. The evening proved most enjoyable and created an unanimous demand for a repetition of the dinner annually. The next congress of the Royal Sanitary Institute will be held at Hull from 30th July to 4th August, t923, by invitation of the mayor and to,am council