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
St Pancras 1961
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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Bacteriological Examination
In addition to the samples of food submitted to the Public Analyst for
chemical examination, 160 samples were taken by the Council's Pood Inspectors
and submitted to the Central Public Health Laboratory,, Colindale, for bacteriological
examination as follows:
(a) Milk
65 samples were subjected to the phosphatase test which indicates the efficiency
of the method of heat treatment, and the methylene blue test which indicates the
keeping quality of the milk. All complied with the appropriate regulations relating
to designated milk
Details of the samples are given in the following table;-
| Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satis -factory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hospitals | - | - | 6 | 1 | - | - | 6 | 1 |
| L.C.C. schools and institutions | - | - | 42 | - | - | - | 42 | - |
| Day nurseries | 1 | - | 6 | - | - | - | 7 | - |
| Distributors | - | - | 7 | - | 2 | - | 9 | - |
| Totals | 1 | - | 61 | 1 | 2 | - | 64 | 1 |
(b) Ice-cream
53 samples were taken, mostly from manufacturers, of which 37 reached grades
1 or 2 when subjected to the methylene blue test
The following table shows the detailed results of these examinations for the year 1961 and preceding years:-
| 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samples | % | Samples | % | Samples | % | Samples | % | Samples | % | |
| Satisfactory - | ||||||||||
| Grade I | 39 | 60.0 | 32 | 61 .6 | 24 | 66.5 | 26 | 65.0 | 29 | 54.7 |
| Grade II | 19 | 29.2 | 14 | 26.9 | 5 | 14.0 | 10 | 25. 0 | 8 | 15.1 |
| Unsatisfactory - | ||||||||||
| Grade III | 7 | 10.8 | 1 | 1.9 | 5 | 14.0 | 2 | 5.0 | 7 | 13.2 |
| Grade IV | - | - | 5 | 9.6 | 2 | 5.5 | 2 | 5.0 | 9 | 17.0 |
| Totals | 65 | 100 .0 | 52 | 100. 0 | 36 | 100.0 | 40 | 100.0 | 53 | 100.0 |
(c) Synthetic cream etc.
12 samples of synthetic cream, 22 of pork sausage meat and 8 of other commodities
were found to be satisfactory.
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