London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of London 1909

Annual report of Medical Officer of Health for 1909

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These represented the milk supply from the following counties:—

Essex14 samples.
Suffolk15 „
Norfolk7 „
Cambridgeshire3 „
Hertfordshire3 „
Total42 samples.

Dr. Klein summarised the results of his examination of these samples as under:—

Appreciable amount of dirt in 14 samples33.33 per cent.
Little dirt in 12 samples28.58 „ „
Mere traces of dirt in 12 samples28.58 „ „
No dirt in 4 samples9.52 „ „
Acute pathogenicity in 15 samples35.7 per cent.
Real tubercle in 2 samples4.7 „ „
No pathogenicity of any kind in 25 samples59.5 „ „

It may be noted that the proportion of tubercular samples found in
this series is the lowest recorded since this investigation commenced.
The results of this enquiry were forwarded to the Medical Officer of the
London County Council in accordance with agreements and arrangements
entered into under the provisions of Section 35 of the London County
Council (General Powers) Act, 1907.
In the two cases in which the milk was found to be tuberculous the names
of the senders, and the situation of the farms from which the milk came, were
forwarded to the Medical Officer of the County Council, who informs me
that upon enquiry it was found that in each case a cow was discovered on the
farm suffering from tuberculosis of the udder.
The owners undertook not to send the milk of these cows to London, and
the attention of the local authorities in whose districts the farms are situate
was directed to the cows in question.
Although the proportion of tubercular samples found was comparatively
low, the number reported as showing acute pathogenicity indicates an
exceedingly unsatisfactory state of affairs. Had the Milk and Dairies Bill
introduced into Parliament last Session come into being, the public would be
better protected than they are at present from the danger arising from the
consumption of milk of this class.
Dr. Klein's report also shows that in the great majority of the samples, few,
if any, precautions are taken to prevent contamination of the milk by dust
and other impurities. No matter what care may be exercised at the farms in