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

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Holborn 1922

Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year 1922

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24
6 of tlie above samples.
The ascertainment, of tlie amount of dirt deposited by a certain volume of
milk is useful in that it is a handy measurement; the examination can be readily
carried out in the absence of a bacteriological laboratory.
In the cases where dirt was found in any considerable quantity a further
sample has been examined later by the Borough Analyst so that an analyst's
certificate could be available if required for the purposes of prosecution these
examinations (6) have been carried out in 1923, dirt being discovered in five
samples in quantities ranging from 0.2 parts per 100,000 to 2.2 parts per 100,000
Arrangements were made for the bacteriological examination of milk for:—
(1) Tubercle Bacilli, 18 samples.
(2) Organisms per cc. at 37° C.
(3) Minimal volume containing B. Coli
The examinations for tubercle bacilli were carried out by animal inoculation.
In three cases, i.e., 16.6 per cent, evidence was established of tuberculous
infection of the milk. In connection with these samples, in addition to
communicating with the retailers and wholesalers, information was sent to the
Medical Officer of Health of the London County Council, with a view to the farms
in question being inspected.
On enquiry by me it was found that the first sample was part of a consignment
by "bulk." the milk originating from hundreds of separate farms so that the
actual source of supply could not be traced. The seriousness of the situation was
pointed out to the Secretary of the wholesale company who undertook to communicate
with every one of the farmers from whom the company's supply is derived,
impressing upon them the importance of having all their cows examined
immediately and stopping the supply of milk from any cows suspected of being
tuberculous.
In the second sample two farms were inspected by the L.C.C. Inspector and
128 cows examined, but no evidence of disease detected. It was, however,
ascertained that some weeks prior to the inspection two cows suspected to be
suffering from tuberculosis were removed from one of the farms and slaughtered.
It is possible that the sample in this case orginated from one of these cows.
In the third case the farm was visited and the herd consisting of 50 cows
inspected and found to be extremely healthy. No evidence of disease could be
detected.

In the case or the six samples examined tor organism as set out in (2) and (6) above, the results wore as follows: —

No.No. of Organisms per cc grown at 37° C.Minimal volume containing Bacillus Coli.
19,7600.1 cc (acid and gas formed) Organisms isolated were B. Fajcalis Alkaligenes.
212,6000.1 cc (acid and gas formed) Organisms isolated were coliform and not typically B. Coli.
314,940.01 cc (acid and gas formed) Organisms isolated B. Acidi Lactiei.
4279,000.001 cc B. Coli isolated.
5352,000.00001 co B. Coli isolated.
686,000.001 cc. B. Coli isolated.