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
Holborn 1926
Report for the year 1926 of the Medical Officer of Health
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The following table gives details of the inspections: —
Sweet Shops Inspected.
| Mr. Bennett | Mr. Clark | Mr. Larard | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Shops inspected | 35 | 37 | 57 | 129 |
| Type of trade— | ||||
| Large | 4 | 13 | 14 | 31 |
| Medium | 17 | 11 | 18 | 46 |
| Small | 14 | 13 | 25 | 52 |
| Trade carried on — | ||||
| Sweets only | 2 | 7 | 10 | 19 |
| Newspapers | 4 | — | 2 | 6 |
| Tobacco | 3 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
| Grocery | 3 | 5 | 8 | 16 |
| General | 4 | 6 | 16 | |
| Refreshments | 19 | 14 | 25 | 58 |
| Other | — | — | 2 | 2 |
| Sweets made on premises | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Evidence of mice | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Dust on sweets | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Sweets covered at night | 30 | 34 | 49 | 113 |
| Windows dressed | ||||
| Daily | 9 | 7 | 11 | 27 |
| Weekly | 18 | 9 | 18 | 45 |
| Fortnightly | 5 | 12 | 24 | 41 |
| Monthly | 2 | 8 | 4 | 14 |
| Longer intervals | _ | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| No window display | 1 | — | — | 1 |
| Scoops used | 3 | 12 | 33 | 48 |
| Cleanliness of person and clothing of assistants Satisfactory | 35 | 34 | 55 | 124 |
| Fair only | _ | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| Dirty | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Provision for washing hands | 35 | 37 | 56 | 128 |
| Evidence of flies | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
In the one case where dust was reported steps were taken, at the request of the
Inspector, for the better protection of the sweets and considerable improvement
effected.
In both cases where there was evidence of mice the necessary steps were taken
for the extermination of the vermin and on subsequent inspections, up to the date
of the preparation of this report, the premises were found free from mice.
In one case a notice served for cleansing the premises was at once complied
with and in another case cleansing was carried out without the necessity of a
notice being served.
In addition to the above, nine stalls for the sale of sweets were inspected,
all of these were found to have top covers, eight had side screens and two were
also provided with back screens. No evidence cf contamination by dust or flies
was found on the sweets exposed for sale on any of the nine stalls. In five cases