London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Barking 1931

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Barking]

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52
There were during the year 12 samples of milk submitted to biological
examination for the presence of tubercle. Of this number three samples were
found to be infected.
The bacteriological examination of all milk samples is carried out for this
Authority by the Counties Public Health Laboratories of 91, Queen Victoria Street,
London, whilst the examination of samples of milk for the presence of tubercle is
carried out by Professor R. T. Hewlett, of the Seamen's Hospital, Greenwich, by
animal inoculation.

The following table shows the number of licences gran'.ed during the year for the sale of graded milks under the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923 :—

"Certified" Milk1
Grade "A" Milk1
"Pasteurised" Milk5
Grade "A" (T.T.) Milk10
Grade "A" Milk, Pasteurised1

Licences were granted to two local firms for the bottling of Grade " A " (T.T.)
Milk, and one for the treatment and sale of milk as " pasteurised."
There are in the district 45 retailers and 11 wholesale distributors of sterilised
milk.
One dairyman was prosecuted for bottling milk in the street.
It will be seen that a considerable amount of work has been done in endeavouring
to maintain a satisfactory standard of food value and purity, but considerable
work yet remains to be done.
I hope you will take every step you can to see that all milk which is pasteurised
shall be sold as pasteurised milk. This, I think, is the first important step to take
in promoting a cleaner milk supply.
As Medical Officer of Health I am anxious to promote the sale of milk, and I
rejoice in the co-operation I have had from many milk retailers towards this end.
It is, however, to be regretted that 7 samples out of the 52 examined baeteriologically
were found to be unsatisfactory, whilst, of course, to find 3 out of 12 samples of milk
examined for tuberculosis to be infected, clearly indicates the magnitude of the
task before us in obtaining a milk supply which we can assure the public is quite safe.