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

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Bermondsey 1925

Report on the sanitary condition of the Borough of Bermondsey for the year 1925

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At their meeting on the 10th March, 1925, I submitted a
report to the Maternity and Child Welfare Committee on the
subject, and as a result was instructed to allow women who
were convalescent from various illnesses to have a couple of
weeks or more at the home as might be desirable on medical
grounds, but only one woman took advantage of this. Women
were also allowed to take two children instead of one, but notwithstanding
these various attempts, the home was not very
full at any period during the winter. This, however, was
apparently due to want of suitable propaganda, and we hope to
remedy this in the winter of 1926-1927.
PURE MILK SUPPLY.
On the 28th November, 1924, a Conference of Local
Authorities of London and Greater London was called together
in the Council Chamber, Bermondsey Town Hall, and a resolution
was adopted urging the authorities concerned that after due notice
on a given date, all liquid milk given to mothers and children
under Maternity and Child Welfare Schemes must be " certified "
milk, or Grade "A " (Tuberculin Tested) milk. The Ministry
of Health pointed out in a letter dated 20th February, 1925, that
the procedure contemplated by this resolution would probably be
found impracticable. They thought that the increased demand
would raise the price of this class of milk, and that the production
at that time was on a very limited scale. The Minister, however,
would consider the payment of grant on expenditure incurred in
supplying Grade "A" (Tuberculin Tested) milk, as far as it
could be obtained, if he was satisfied that the Council could
obtain it at a reasonable price. He further suggested that if the
purpose of the Council was to supply milk which is free from
tuberculosis bacilli, that this could be met by the use of dried
milk. The Maternity and Child Welfare Committee of the
Council, however, decided to carry out their resolution, and gave
six months notice in writing to all milkmen supplying milk that on
and after the Ist July, 1925, all milk supplied to the Council
must consist of Grade "A" (Tuberculin Tested) Milk. I am
very glad to report now that the fears of the Ministry of Health
were quite groundless, and that there was a plentiful supply of