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
City of Westminster 1911
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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Samples taken in course of Delivery—
(a) At Railway Stations.—51 samples of milk were taken on arrival
at Victoria and Charing Cross Railway Stations. Thirteen were reported
of good quality, 17 fair, 21 poor and 0 adulterated.
(b) On Delivery at Shops, cfee.—30 samples of milk were taken as it
was being delivered by wholesale firms to retail customers. Of these
samples, 17 were good, 7 fair, 5 poor, and 1 adulterated (3 per cent,
added water). These samples were taken in consequence of the milk
sold by the retailer having been previously sampled and found below
the limit (including cases where a warranty defence was set up).
The number of samples of milk taken in each of the last ten years
are as follows:—
The number of samples of milk taken in each of the last ten years are as follows:—
| 1902. | 1903. | 1904. | 1905. | 1906. | 1907. | 1908. | 1909. | 1910. | 1911. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | 491 | 608 | 741 | 831 | 806 | 792 | 860 | 951 | 947 | 91 |
| Separated, condensed, sterilised or dried | 55 | 55 | 31 | 36 | 11 | 31 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 12 |
| Total | 546 | 663 | 772 | 867 | 817 | 823 | 878 | 967 | 960 | 923 |
Infringement of Section 9, Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899.—
Five persons were cautioned for failure to have name and address on
milk can or barrow.
In two cases in which the third portion of milk taken was sent to
Somerset House for analysis at the request of the defendants, different
results were obtained to those reported by the Council's Analyst. In
one of these (No. 393 S) Somerset House reported that their portion
contained 3.49 per cent. of fat, the Council's Analyst found 2.85 per
cent, in his portion, while the Analyst who examined the portion left
with the defendant found 3.06 per cent. Apparently in the milk
in question the cream had been partially converted into butter, and
in dividing it into three portions it is probable that the fat was not
equally divided. The average of the three portions was 3.13, so that it
was just above the minimum permissible.
In the other case (No. 79s) the Public Analyst certified a sample
he examined to be deficient in fat to the extent of 10.6 per cent.
Somerset House found only 3 per cent, deficiency in their part.
The sample was purchased on 31st January, 1911.
Public Analyst's certificate received, 14th February, 1911.
Committee ordered proceedings, 21st February, 1911.
Summons issued, 23rd February, 1911.
First hearing of summons and request for third portion of sample to
be sent to Somerset House, 23rd March, 1911.
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