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
Hackney 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hackney]
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There were thus ten prosecutions instituted during the year,
resulting in the payment of £40 2s. 6d. in fines and costs.
The average composition of the formal milk samples taken in 1932 is shown in the following table in order that a comparison may be made with the standard of genuineness accepted by the Ministry of Agriculture, namely, 3.0 percent. milk fat and 8.5 percent. solids not fat:—
| Months. | Number of Formal Samples taken. | Average Composition of all Samples. | Average Composition of Genuine Samples. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Milk Fat. | Percentage of Solids not Fat | Percentage of Milk Fat. | Percentage of Solids not Fat | ||
| January | 18 | 3.80 | 8.90 | 3.80 | 8.90 |
| February | 51 | 3.59 | 8.76 | 3.63 | 8.77 |
| March | 56 | 3.65 | 8.88 | 3.69 | 8.86 |
| April | 44 | 3.50 | 8.76 | 3.51 | 8.78 |
| May | 64 | 3.48 | 8.91 | 3.49 | 8.91 |
| June | 72 | 3.35 | 8.97 | 3.39 | 8.96 |
| July | 54 | 3.38 | 8.87 | 3.41 | 8.88 |
| August | 43 | 3.43 | 8.78 | 3.43 | 8.78 |
| September | 29 | 3.58 | 9.12 | 3.58 | 9.12 |
| October | 30 | 3.85 | 9.07 | 3.85 | 9.07 |
| November | 53 | 3.85 | 8.93 | 3.85 | 8.94 |
| December | 52 | 3.82 | 8.92 | 3.82 | 8.92 |
| Average | 3.60 | 8.90 | 3.62 | 8.90 | |
It will be seen that the average fat content of the samples
taken in the Borough exceeded the Ministry of Agriculture standard
by no less than 0.6 percent., notwithstanding the fact that 17 of
the samples taken were adulterated.
Under the Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915, a
purveyor of milk from whom a sample has been taken for analysis
may, within 60 hours after the sample of milk was procured, if he
proposes to establish a warranty defence, request the local authority
to take a sample from a corresponding milking in the course of
transit or delivery to his premises. During 1932 requests for the
taking of samples in course of transit or delivery were received in
eleven cases. In eight cases samples were not taken from the wholesalers
as those secured from the retailers had been certified to be
of genuine composition. In the remaining three cases the samples
taken from the retailers were reported to be adulterated, whilst
those taken from the wholesalers proved to be of genuine
composition.
During the year 67 samples of pasteurised milk were taken at
the County Council's hospitals in the Borough. Twenty-six of
these were submitted to bacteriological examination and found to