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
Coulsdon and Purley 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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Milk Sampling.
The routine sampling of milk was continued and a total
of 315 samples was submitted for bacteriological and biological
examination, an increase of 140 compared with 1949, with the
results set out in the following tables
BACTERIOLOGICAL.
Tests required by the Milk (Special Designation) Regulations, 1949.
| Designation. | Number. | Methylene Blue. | Phosphatase. | Coliform Bacteria | Turbidity. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfactory. | U nsatis-factory. | Satisfactory. | Unsatisfactory. | Satisfactory. | Unsatisfactory. | Satisfactory. | Unsatisfactory. | ||
| Pasteurised | 182 | 179 | 3 | 180 | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| Heat Treated | 7 | 7 | — | 7 | - | - | - | - | |
| T.T. (Raw) | 19 | 11 | 8 | — | — | 2* | - | - | — |
| T.T. (Pasteurised) | 18 | 18 | — | 18 | — | — | — | — | - |
| Sterilised | 18 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 18 | - |
| Totals | 244 | 215 | 11 | 205 | 2 | 2 | — | 18 | — |
| *Remainder not subject to Test. | |||||||||
BIOLOGICAL.
| Designation. | N umber. | Tubercle Bacillus. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| + | - | ||
| Tuberculin Tested | 12 | - | 12 |
| Ungraded | 54 | 1 | 53 |
| Channel Island | 5 | — | 5 |
| Totals | 71 | 1 | 70 |
Of the total samples taken only a comparatively small
number failed to pass the prescribed test.
The somewhat high percentage of failures in respect of T.T.
(Raw) Milk was due to a single source of supply which consistently
failed to pass the Methylene Blue (keeping) test. This
milk was produced in Hampshire and no doubt the inevitable
delay between the time of production and the time of delivery
was a contributory factor in the results obtained. This source
of supply was discontinued.
The Divisional Veterinary Officer of the Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries carried out an investigation at one
farm as a result of representations made to him in respect of
the T.B. positive biological milk sample. Although it could
not be confirmed, it was considered that a dry cow may have
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