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
Port of London 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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TABLE NO. 2
Damaged meats and rejected ship stores meats sent under detention from ships to No.6 P.L.A. Cold Store for condemnation or reconditioning:—
| No. | |
|---|---|
| Mutton and Lamb Carcases | 10,117 |
| Fores-Hinds and Crops Beef | 5,080 |
| Pig; Carcases | 6,071 |
| Veal Sides | 176 |
| Cartons Mutton and Lamb Cuts | 161 |
| Cartons Beef Cuts | 11,297 |
| Cartons Boneless Beef | 2,538 |
| Cartons and Bags Beef Offals | 2,907 |
| Cartons and Bags Sheep and Lamb Offals | 30 |
| Cartons Veal Offals | 38 |
| Cartons Pork Offals | 280 |
| Cartons Pork Pieces | 62 |
| Carton Rabbits | 1 |
| Bags Kangaroo Meat | 20 |
| Cases Poultry | 25 |
| Total quantity detained | 38,803 |
In addition rejected ship store meat from 20 vessels, together with 13 Cartons Cheese and 695
Cartons Butter and Margarine were detained.
The various causes of detention may be classified as follows:—
Defective refrigeration resulting in decomposition—
Black and white mould-rancidity
Defective stowage in ships' holds
Damage at the time of loading and discharge
Damage from defective brine pipes
Disease — both bacterial and parasitic
TABLE NO. 3
The number of Detentions by individual inspectors together with the weight of
condemned meat sent to the Corporation contractor:—
Number of Detentions made by—
Mr. P.W. Coombe (Senior Inspector) 201
Mr. A. Good (Meat Inspector) 153
Mr. W. Walker (Meat Inspector — Cold Store) 24
Mr. D. Madeley (ex. Tilbury Dock) 6
Total detentions 384
Total weight of meat destroyed—
137 Tons 19 cwts. 1 qr. 13 lbs. nett.
TABLE NO. 4
Samples of meats sent to the Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, for bacteriological examination:—
| Commodity | Country of Origin | No. of Samples | Salmonella | Cl. Welchi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boneless Veal | New Zealand | 35 | 1 | Nil |
| Bobby Veal | Australia | 5 | Nil | Nil |
| Boneless Beef | Australia | 75 | 3 | Nil |
| Beef Cuts | Brazil | 10 | Nil | Nil |
| Beef Cuts | Bechuanaland | 85 | 10 | Nil |
| Beef Cuts | Argentina | 30 | Nil | Nil |
| Boneless Mutton | Australia | 30 | 6 | Nil |
| Lamb and Mutton Cuts | New Zealand | 15 | Nil | Nil |
| Mutton Cuts | Arge ntina | 5 | Nil | Nil |
| Sheep Livers | Australia | 5 | Nil | Nil |
| Rabbits | China | 15 | 1 | Nil |
| Rabbit Meat | Australia | 25 | Nil | Nil |
| Chicken Meat | China | 1 | Nil | Nil |
| Total | 336 | 21 | Nil | |
| Kangaroo Meat | Australia | 10 | 6 | Nil |
| Kangaroo Tails | Australia | 20 | 4 | Nil |
| Total Samples | 366 | 31 | Nil |
During January and March 12 Pig Submaxillary lymph nodes were sent to Professor Garrod
at St. Bartholomews Hospital in the course of investigating the presence of disease in Swedish
Pigs, which resulted in the isolation of tubercle bacilli and Corynebacterium equi.
39