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
Fulham 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
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In addition, the Medical Officer of Health and the Chief
Sanitary Inspector paid a visit to the Coal and Fuel Research
Station at Greenwich to consult the Director and his technicians.
I would like here to express my appreciation of the able manner
in which, at short notice, this survey was carried out by the
Chief Sanitary Inspector and the staff.
DISINFECTION, DISINFESTATION, & LAUNDRY SERVICES. The following details relate to The services provided by the Disinfecting Superintendent and his staff during 1948:-
| No. of rooms disinfected after Infectious Disease | 173 |
| No. of articles stoved | 6,347 |
| No. of rooms disinfested | 859 |
| No. of inspections made of prospective Council tenants | 109 |
| No. of cases in which disinfestation was necessary | 31 |
| No. of articles laundered for M & C.w services | 49,750 |
| No. „ „ „ „ Public Conveniences | 2,469 |
In addition, transport was provided as necessary for the
M & C.W. Services throughout the year.
Identification was made in 47 cases where insects were brought
in by the public, and the necessary treatment was carried out
where these insects wore found to be harmful.
INSPECTION & SUPERVISION OF FOOD
There are no slaughterhouses in the Borough, and no animals
are killed for human consumption,
All food premises are kept under observation and frequently inspected, and the following figures relate to this work during 1948 :-
| Food Factories | 135 |
| Milk Shops & Dairies | 630 |
| Factory Bakehouses | 513 |
| Bakers Shops | 59 |
| Restaurants | 104 |
| Dining Rooms, etd., | 57 |
| Butchers Shops | 126 |
| Fried Fish Shops | 67 |
| Fish Shops | 89 |
| Greengrocers | 103 |
| Grocery & Provisions | 239 |
| Ice Cream Premises | 282 |
| Stallholders Stores | 60 |
| Cooked Meat Shops | 12 |
| Licenced Premises | 60 |
| Other Food Premises | 125 |
Food and Drugs - Adulterations etc. During the year under review,
one thousand articles of food and drugs, were purchased by the
Sampling Officer and submitted to the Public Analyst for analysis.
Of these, 37 or 3.7 per cent., were adversely reported upon and
in ten instances legal proceedings were instituted. Only one-
a sample of Non-brewed Vinegar - which was 11.5 per cent,
deficient in acetic acid, calls for special mention. In this
instance, the Magistrate at the West London Police Court dismissed
the summons on the grounds that the certificate of the Public
Analyst was vague as it did not specify the accepted standard for
acetic acid. Against this the Council appealed to the High Court,
where the Magistrate's decision was upheld.