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 Deptford, Metropolitan Borough of]
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III. Food Poisoning.
The following is an analysis of the notifications received, grouped according to the causal agent:—
Food. | No. of cases. |
---|---|
Tinned Salmon | 2 cases |
Ham | 3 „ |
Fried Fish | 2 „ |
Meat Pie | 3 „ |
Beef Sausages | 1 „ |
Mussels | 1 „ |
Fish | 1 „ |
Stewed Plums | 1 „ |
Pressed Beef | 1 „ |
(Uncertain) | 2 „ |
In addition to a copy of each certificate being forwarded to the County
Medical Officer, information, in respect of cases of general interest as
affecting the Metropolis as a whole is also transmitted to him.
In any case where a particular food appears to be definitely incriminated,
bacteriological and chemical examination of the food, and
serological examination of the patient's blood, excreta, etc., are carried
out and the results communicated to the Ministry.
IV. Food Sampling.
In addition to the usual routine procedure by which food samples
are obtained, sampling of milk is also carried out at the South-Eastern
Hospital, the Babies' Hospital, the Maternity Home, and at the public
elementary schools in the Borough. In the case of hospital samples,
the chemical content and bacterial count are ascertained, while the
school supplies are investigated for the presence of tubercle and for
chemical content. Occasional examination for tubercle and chemical
content is also made of milk coming direct to one of the railway
stations.
Frequency of Sampling.—A total of 500 samples, formal and
informal, were taken during the year, equivalent to 5 samples per
1,000 of the population.