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

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Holborn 1926

Report for the year 1926 of the Medical Officer of Health

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Examinations for tubercle bacilli were carried out by animal inoculation ; three of
the samples examined were found to contain tubercle bacilli.

The following table refers to the samples examined as mentioned above :—

Date sample taken.Nature of Shop where purchased.No. of Organisms per cc. grown at 37° C for 24 hours.Minimal volume containing Bacillus Coli.
1926
Aug. 3Large milkshop5,600,0000.0001 CC.
Aug. 11Large milkshop25,000,0000.00001 cc.
Oct. 26Large milkshop125,0000.001 cc.
Not. 18Small milkshop3,900,(000.00001 cc.
Dec. 10Refreshment rooms90,0001 cc.

Dirt in Milk.
During the year 100 samples were examined in the Health Office for dirt; no
dirt was found in any sample.
The problem of securing a clean milk supply in a Central London area is one
of considerable difficulty. It is only partially met by the institution of the
"designated" milk. Comparatively few retailers have much demand for this
milk and the amount retailed by some licence holders is very small; the public is
not disposed to pay the higher price charged for designated milk; indeed, many
of the poorer inhabitants could not afford to do so.
The extra cost of producing Grade A Tuberculin Tested milk is creditably stated to be
2.86d. per gallon. The extra price obtained by the farmer is only 3d. a gallon. Thus for all
his trouble the farmer only receives 0.14d. per gallon. Small though this profit be, once
farmers are licensed for the production of designated milk they do not revert to the old
methods of production.
The expense is chiefly involved in the collection of a herd of suitable cattle. Owing to
the elimination of tuberculosis and the supervision by veterinary surgeons (a requirement
for the granting of a licence for the production of designated milk) the general health of
the cows is improved with the result that the quantity of milk is maintained at a high level
and there are very few, if any, "wasters" and no loss when the milch cows are sold for
meat. The consumer obtains milk from healthy cows which is free from tubercle bacilli,
contains a minimum of other bacteria, is clean and will keep fresh for a reasonable period,
an advantage of considerable importance to the town dweller who cannot get milk fresh
from the cow.
The value of the Milk (Special Designations) Order is, to no small extent, in
its educational effects. The existence of such arrangements shows milk producers
that clean milk can be produced on farms and that medical opinion has been able
to convince the representatives of the public of the importance of keeping milk
as free as possible from bacteria and, above all, from tubercle bacilli.
Tn the year 1922 arrangements were instituted in Holbom for the systematic
examination of samples of milk for the presence of dirt. The routine covers the
ascertainment of the amount of dirt deposited by a certain volume of milk; it is
found useful in that it is a handy measurement, the examination being readily