London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hampstead 1954
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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42
Retailer within an hour or so of being bought. Samples were
taken from the same consignments., both by the Fishmongers
Company's Inspector at Billingsgate and. directly the shellfish
arrived at the Heath and subsequently at various periods throughout
the day by the Council's Inspector, Mr. T.H. Marshall.
The evidence adduced pointed to contamination occurring
by reason of unsatisfactory storage and/or handling and this
question will be further explored at future Fairs.
My thanks are again due to Dr. Betty Hobbs, Principal of
the Food Hygiene Section of the Government Central Public
Health Laboratory, Colindale, for her very valuable co-operation
and assistance, even to the extent of personal visits to the
Heath to see for herself the particular catering hygiene
problems involved.
The following table shows the grading of Ice Cream samples taken at the fairground since the Wars:-
| Year | No. ofSamplesTaken. | Grading under Meth.Blue Test | Percentages of Grades 1 and 2 Samples. | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 1948 | 8 | Nil | 3 | 2 | 3 | 37·5 |
| 1949 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 33·3 |
| 1950 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 70·0 |
| 1951 | 38 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 77·8 |
| 1952 | 38 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 65·7 |
| 1953 | 42 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 66·6 |
| 1954 | 34 | 28 | 2 | — | 4 | 82·3 |
FOOD SAMPLING.
(a) Bacteriological examination of food stuffs.
This service Is undertaken by the Central Public Health
Laboratory. I am greatly indebted to Colonel H.J. Benstead, the
Director of the Laboratory, for unfailing co-operation and
help.