Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-02
DETERIORATION OF BRITISH
Gin, Beer and Other Liquors Taken by
Working Glasses.
FINEST PASTURES IN THE WORLD
Elaborate Regulations for Governing
the Dairies-London Societies for
Protection of Public Health.
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.

Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald
The population of London consumes less
milk per capita than that of any American
city. The consumption is between 100000
and 100000 gallons per day, which is an
average of from OF to O.5 of pint per day
among the well-to-do classes, while among
the poor the average daily consumption is
less than one-tenth of a pint. Medical
men attribute the apparent deterioration of
the British race to this, among other
causes. chief of which is the high consump-
ton of gin, beer and other liquors. The
working classes of London drink more
liquor than milk. and the gin and beer
habit prevails more generally among the
women in London and other of the large
cities of England than in any other coun-
try in the world.
There are 4,1O2, 600 mich cows in the
united kingdom of Great Britain and Ire
lana. which yield an average of 400 gal
Ions per year each, making a total of
i,oo'Wo,ooo gallons of milk per year. This
is an average of only thirty-sx gallons per
year Tor every man, woman and child in
the united kingdom, or less than half a
pint day. When the amount of milk used
in dairies for butter and cheese and for
other purposes is deducted, the average
Will be reduced to a very small allowance
The milk supply of London comes from
all parts Of England and Wales, and is
brought by railway in ordinary cars in
large tin cans similar to those used in the
United States. 1t is handled very much
the same way as it is here, except that it is
brought greater distance, some of it as
far as 423 miles. The average distance is
$50 miles. Refrigerator cars are almost un-
known, and only a very small part of the
supply is shipped that way.
Best Pastures in the World.
During the summer the cows are kent in
pastures upon very rich grass England has
the finest pastures in the world. The turf
Is thick, the grass is full of nourishment
and the moisture of the climate keeps 1t
green longer than is usual in any other
country. During the winter the cows are
Kept in sheds and fed hay, turnips, bran
mashes and dairy cakes composed of a
mixture of bran and cottonseed. They are
MIXED twice day. The mornings milk is
shipped to London during the day; the
evening milking is delivered at the railway
stations at an early hour and is picked nm
by the express trains during the night The
cans are exposed to various degrees of tenn
perature and to pollution at the farm, at
the railway station. in the cars while in
transit. and at the milk shops in London
The bulk of the trade of London is con-
trolled by dozen large wholesale compa-
mes, each having monopoly in its dis
trict. In the fashionable residence sections
OF the city may be found small dealers who
handle the products of special dairy farms in
Devonshire and elsewhere and supply rich
families at high prices. These small dealers
controi perhaps 20 per cent of the entire
trade. The large supply companies have
open wagons or carts at all the railway sta
tons before daylight every morning to re-
ceive the milk cans upon their arrival and
to haul away those which have accumu-
lated during the night.
The retail delivery begins. as # does in
this country. by daylight in the morning,
ana In the thickly settled sections is carried
on oy hand carts. Each man has his route
and Is responsible for the returns from
whatever amount of milk may be furnished
him. He Is paid in the form Of a commits
sion upon the collections. A man with two
cans In push cart will serve the fnhab-
itants of several blocks, who hearing his
cry, bring pals. cups. pans, pitchers. lars
and other receptacles to be filled by dipping
into the cans. Very little milk is served In
bottles and the cans in which it is deliv-
cred are the same that come in over the
railway from the farms In the suburbs
milk Is served the same way, except the
carts are drawn by horses instead of nv
men. ~
Nearly 30 per cent of the entire sunnlv 10
furnished to the public through dairy shops.
of which there are 9204 in Greater LON,
don. These shops keep butter eggs. cheese
ana sometimes dressed poultry, in addition
to milk which they sell over the counter
to casual customers or deliver by their
own errand boys to the families in the
neighborhood in tins or bottles 1t is GUS
toamry Tor many London housekeepers to
send maid or some other servant to the
nearest milk shop every morning for milk
or cream enough for breakfast in addition
to the regular supply received from the
mllkman, which they use for cooking pur-
poses.
Sanitary Regulations.
There are various regulations adopted by
his majesty's most honorable privy coun-
eli and various acts Of parliament for gov
erning the trade In milk. and they are en-
forced with more or less energy in different
parts OF the city. according to the DISPOSE
tfon of the local magistrates. The 'dairies
cow-shed and milk-shop order" as 1t Is
called. extending to England, Scotland and
Wales, prescribed many precautions to be
observed by purveyors of milk by retail
against infection or contamination These
rules are purely conventional, however.
They forbid ''the storage or handling of
milk In any room or place where 1t would
be liable to become infected or contami-
mated by impure air or by any Offensive
noxious deleterious gas or substance.
or by any Injurious emanation, exhalation
or efffuvium, or In any room used as a
kitchen or living room or sleeping
room. or In any room communicating with
a living or a sleeping room, or In. any room
or building In which there is a direct inlet
to any DRAIN" 1t is forbidden ito keep or
place milk In any vessel. receptacle or uten-
sill which Is not thoroughly cleaned with
steam boiling water after It shall have
been used. and all such vessels must be
maintained in a constant state of cleanli-
ness" The penalties for violation of these
regulations are a fine of E5 for the first
offense and further penalty of e2 for
each day they are repeated.
These regulations are constantly violated
and frequent arrests are made by inspectors
of the sanitary department. investigations
have shown that so per cent of the London
milk dealers use personalities, although the
| law forbids them. and the provision that