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

Battersea 1923

Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1923

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Table: Of the 171 samples of milk submitted, 11, or 6.4 per cent., were reported against, as under:—

Of the 171 samples of milk submitted, 11, or 6.4 per cent., were reported against, as under:—

Case No.Nature of Report.Case No.Nature of Report.
47618% extraneous water.63411½% extraneous water and 32½% milk fat deficient.
5445% milk fat deficient.
5747½% extraneous water.
5797% extraneous water.6432½% extraneous water.
6047% extraneous water.6633% milk fat deficient.
60510% extraneous water.67310% extraneous water.
6182% milk fat deficient.

Table: The average composition, in regard to milk fat and solids-not-fat, of the 160 samples of milk submitted during the quarter and reported as genuine was as follows:—

The average composition, in regard to milk fat and solids-not-fat, of the 160 samples of milk submitted during the quarter and reported as genuine was as follows:—

Total milk solids% 12.80
Milk fat3.84
Solids-not-fat8.96

Table: One sample of separated milk was reported against, namely:—

One sample of separated milk was reported against, namely:—

Case No.Nature of Report.
594Coloured with annatto

Table: Of the 47 " Other Articles" examined, 7, or 14.9 per cent., were reported against, the formal samples being the following:-

Of the 47 " Other Articles" examined, 7, or 14.9 per cent., were reported against, the formal samples being the following:-

Case No.Nature of Sample.Nature of Report.
500Sausages6.02 grains Crystallised Boric Acid per 1b.
502,,6.02 ,, ,,
504Fish Paste8.19 ,, ,,
601Sponge Cakes23.8 ,, ,,

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The 3 informal samples of sponge cakes reported against were
found to contain a boron preservative in varying quantities.
Of the 40 samples of butter submitted, 2 informal samples were
reported against as containing margarine.
Of the 40 samples of butter examined, 6 were found to be free
from any preservative other than common salt, whilst 34 contained
a boron preservative in quantities not exceeding 0.5 per cent.
The average content of boron preservative expressed in terms
of crystallised boric acid contained in the 32 samples of butter
reported as genuine, and as containing this preservative, amounted
to 0.24 per cent., equivalent to 16.8 grains per lb.
The 4 informal samples of margarine all contained a boron
preservative, but in no case did the amount exceed 0.5 per cent.
(expressed in terms of crystallised boric acid), the average content
being 0.33 per cent., equivalent to 23.1 grains per lb.