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82
Examination of Milk Samples in Finsbury
for Tuberculosis, &c.
In accordance with the instructions of the Public Health Committee
of 12th February, I had 25 samples of milk purchased at
various representative shops in the Borough, with a view of
determining their condition and quality from the point of view of
cleanliness and infection. It will be understood that the sampling
of milk which usually takes place is carried out under the Sale of
Food and Drugs Act, and has for its purpose the detection of
adulteration only, as, for example, the addition of water or
abstraction of fat. In view of the fact that this fails to determine
the more important matter of cleanliness, purity, and freedom from
infection, the Committee deemed it wise occasionally to have an
examination made for these latter purposes alone. Twenty-five
samples were therefore obtained and submitted to Dr. Foulerton,
the Director of the Bacteriological Laboratories at the Middlesex
Hospital, for examination. His report was as follows:—
Bacteriological Department,
The Middlesex Hospital,
London, W.
Gth May, 1907.

All the above samples were received in my laboratories on the respective
mornings of the dates given above, and were contained in clean 6-ounce glass
bottles. I was informed that each sample had been taken within two hours of
the time when it was delivered in the laboratories, and in every case the
bacteriological examination was commenced immediately on the receipt of
the sample.