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
City of London 1919
Report of the Medical Officer of Health of the City of London for the year 1919
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| No. of Sample. | Date. | Presence of Dirt. | Guinea Pig Inoculated. | Animal Killed. | Result. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7. | May 29. | Clean. | May 30. | July 9. | Inguinal glands enlarged. Tubercle bacilli found. Tubercles in spleen and liver. TUBERCULOUS. |
| 8. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 9. | Normal. |
| 9. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 15. | Do. |
| 10. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 15. | Do. |
| 11. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 15. | Do. |
| 12. | May 29. | Clean. | May 30. | Dead July 4. | Death from Peritonitis. No sign of Tubercle. |
| 13. | June 2. | Clean. | June 3. | July 15. | Normal. |
| 14. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 15. | Do. |
| 15. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 16. | Do. |
| 16. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 16. | Do. |
| 17. | June 5. | Clean. | June 6. | July 23. | Do. |
| 18. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 23. | Do. |
| 19. | Do. | Large trace. | Do. | July 23. | Do. |
| 20. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 23. | Do. |
| 21. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 23. | Do. |
| 22. | June 12. | Clean. | June 13. | July 26. | Do. |
| 23. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 26. | Do. |
| 24. | Do. | Large trace. | Do. | July 26. | Do. |
| 25. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 26. | Do. |
| 26. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 28. | Do. |
| 27. | Do. | Clean. | Do. | July 28. | Do. |
Percentage of Samples tuberculous, 14 .8%.
No Sample could be classed as really dirty, but in two there were large traces.
In this series there was a remarkable absence of pyogenic cocci; no acute abscesses arose from
the injections.
(Signed) F. W. ANDREWES, M.D.
July 28th, 1919. St. Bartholomew's Hospital.
For comparative purposes the results obtained in previous investigations are here shown.
| 1904 % | 1905 % | 1906 % | 1907-8 % | 19(59 | 1910 % | 1911 % | 1912 % | 1913 % | 1914 % | 1915 % | 1917 % | 1919 % | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st series % | 2nd series % | ||||||||||||||
| Fairly Clean | 48.7 | 68.2 | 80.0 | 54.2 | 43.7 | 66.6 | 75.0 | 28.6 | 79.9 | Clean | 83.3 | 97.9 | 88.8 | 75.0 | 92.6 |
| Unclean | 43.6 | 22.7 | 12.0 | 37.5 | 43.8 | 33.3 | 25.0 | 71.6 | 20.0 | Unclean | 16.7 | 2.1 | 11.2 | 25.0 | 7.4 |
| Tuberculous | 7.7 | 9.1 | 8.0 | 8.3 | 12.5 | 4.7 | 6.25 | .... | 6.6 | Tuberculous | 10.4 | 10.2 | 8.5 | 4.2 | 14.8 |
It is satisfactory to note the decrease in the percentage of unclean samples.
Particulars with regard to the source of supply, etc., of these samples, showing
the presence of dirt were communicated to the Medical Officer of Health of the
area in which the farm was situated.
In accordance with the arrangements made with the London County Council
details of the tuberculous samples were sent to the Medical Officer of Health of
that authority.
The public analysist's report with regard to the chemical composition of the
samples submitted to him showed them to be satisfactoty.
SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS.
During 1919, 1,010 samples were submitted to the Public Analyst for examination;
of this number 810 were taken as test samples without the formality of
the Act being observed. 118 of these were found to be adulterated, made up as
follows:-
12 of milk out of 146 taken.
90 of butter out of 308 taken.
1 of vinegar out of 19 taken.
2 of margarine out of 5 taken.
13 of drugs out of 91 taken.
Of the formal samples, 20 out of 200 (or 10 per cent.) were found to be adulterated,
made up as follows:-
5 of milk out of 104 samples taken.
9 of butter out of 85 samples taken.
5 of drugs out of 6 samples taken.
1 of vinegar out of 1 sample taken.