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
Tottenham 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Tottenham]
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49
were employed with a view of determining the responsible organism. As
the result of the investigation it was concluded that the sterilization of
the meat in the process had killed the germs, but that after ingestion of
the food the poisons contained in the germs (endotoxins) were liberated
by digestion, causing their harmful effects.
Several of the patients were acutely ill, but all recovered.
FOOD AND DRUGS
I am obliged to the County Council (who are the Authority for administering the provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1875), for the following information respecting samples taken in Tottenham:—
| Name of Article. | Samples. | |
|---|---|---|
| Taken | Found Adulterated. | |
| Milk | 614 | 19 |
| Butter | 20 | — |
| Cream | 4 | — |
| Apples | 8 | 1 |
| Arrowroot | 6 | — |
| Cinnamon | 1 | — |
| Egg Powder | 2 | — |
| Gin | 20 | 12 |
| Ginger, ground | 1 | — |
| Lard | 2 | — |
| Margarine | 1 | — |
| Mineral Water | 1 | — |
| Mustard | 13 | 7 |
| Oatmeal | 2 | — |
| Olive Oil | 1 | — |
| Pepper | 4 | — |
| Sweets | 1 | — |
| 701 | 39 | |
Number of Prosecutions 3
Number of Convictions 2
Fines and Costs imposed £6 2s.
The figures given for adulterated samples include some adulterated
informal samples, in respect of which no proceedings could be taken.