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

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Holborn 1925

Report for the year 1925 of the Medical Officer of Health

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lc.c. of the liquor—1/10 of a mussel was then diluted as follows in fractions of a mussel and lc.c. of each dilution added to McConkey Bile Salt Lactose Broth and incubated for 24 hours at 37°C.

1. 1/100Acid and Gas present.
2. 1/1,000Acid and Gas present.
3. 1/10,000Acid and Gas present.
4. 1/100,000No change.
5. 1/1,000,000No change.
6. 1/10,000,000No change.
7. 1/100,000,000No change.
8. 1/1,000,000,000No change.

Therefore the organisms finally isolated must have been present to the extent of at least
10,000 per mussel.
The coliform organism isolated gave the reactions approximately of an atypical B. Coli;
it fermented Lactose, Glucose, Mannite, but produced no Indol; the organism therefore, if
not identical with the organism derived from the human intestine, approximates closely to
it and is to all intents and purposes an indication of fæcal contamination, probably human.
lc.c. of the same dilutions after heating at 80°C. for ten minutes was inoculated under
anaerobic conditions for 48 hours at 37°C. "Stormy" coagulation ("raft" clotting)
occurred in the 1/100 dilution, indicating the presumptive presence of B. Welchii (B.
enteritides sporogenes).
Prom the above data it would appear that the 10 mussels submitted to examination
were not fit for human consumption.
(Sd.) E. GOODWIN RAWLINSON, M.D., D.P.H.
Contamination of Food.
In my report for 1924 I drew attention to the need for definite and more
stringent legislation for dealing with the contamination of food and commented
on the Food Regulations operating in British Colonies.
In South Australia, for instance, such Regulations include provisions dealing
with the cleanliness of the clothing and body of persons handling food, freedom
from contagious, infectious or loathsome disease, the protection of food from rats,
mice, cockroaches, flies, spiders, bugs, moths, and other vermin, as well as the
cleanliness and construction of food premises.
The New Zealand Code contains provision for the thorough washing and
rinsing of drinking vessels and table appliances after use. Similar legislation is
in force in Canada, where, in some parts, licensing of all restaurants, cafes, etc.,
is required.
Food Standards.
In the same report (1924) I also commented on the need for standards of
quality and purity of food, and referred to the Bill introduced by the Government
in 1913 to set up such standards. I also suggested that in framing such standards
the experience of Austria and the States of the Commonwealth of Australia
would have to be taken into account.