Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Table G.
Period | Average Composition Total Solids per cent. | of all Samples. Solids-not-fat per cent. | Fat. per cent. |
---|---|---|---|
January | 12.23 | 8.58 | 3.65 |
February | 12.24 | 8.64 | 3.60 |
March | 12.42 | 8.67 | 3.75 |
April | 12.37 | 8.70 | 3.67 |
May | 12.10 | 8.71 | 3.39 |
June | 12.11 | 8.74 | 3.37 |
July | 11.98 | 8.54 | 3.44 |
August | 12.05 | 8.67 | 3.38 |
September | 12.26 | 8.68 | 3.58 |
October | 12.46 | 8.80 | 3.66 |
November | 12.79 | 8.87 | 3.92 |
December | 12.42 | 8.73 | 3.69 |
In calculating these figures all samples of milk, no matter how grossly
adulterated, have been included. As was the case last year the averages show
that the bulk of the milk sold in Stepney is of good quality, they also show
that the legal minimum for solids-ot-fat is a fair one. The limit for fat
appears to me to be too low. Of course certain cows do yield milk containing
as little as 3 0 per cent., particularly at the morning milking in the spring
months, but as all up-to-date milk production is now under analytical control,
I consider that farmers might reasonably be required to reserve such milk for
the manufacture of cheese, butter, etc., that the limit for fresh milk shculd be
raised, and that it should be made an offence to sell milk below the legal
limits, whether the deficiency be due to the cow or to adulteration.
Table H gives particulars of the adulterated samples of milk.
Table H.
Number. | Deficient of Fat. per cent. | Deficient of Solids-not-fat. per cent. | Result. |
---|---|---|---|
S13 | 13 | 9 | Vendor paid £2 2s. costs. |
J16 | — | 14 | Dismissed. Warranty defence. |
C20 | — | 7 | Vendor cautioned. |
A25 | 10 | 8 | Vendor paid £2 4s. costs. |
N6 | — | 5 | Vendor cautioned. |
D20 | 10 | - | Fined £3 with £2 2s. costs. |
T17 | 30 | 41 | Vendor fined £20 with £2 2s. costs. Assistant fined £20 with £3 3s. costs. |