London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Fulham 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Fulham Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
(53)
3 samples of milk were reported to be adulterated, the details beings:-
| No: | Result of Analysis | Action taken on recommendation of Public Health Committee |
|---|---|---|
| 3.4% added water | Purveyors warned by letter | |
| Purveyors warned by letter | ||
| 460 | Purveyor warned by letter |
Samples 118 and 129 were purchased from the same vendors and on
investigation it was proved that the extraneous water entered the milk
through a defect in the processing plant.
The following table gives the monthly average composition of all samples of milk examined in Fulham and it will be seen that the quality of the milk distributed in the Borough is well maintained and compares very favourably with the legal standards laid down in the Sale of Milk Regulations, 1939.
| Month | No, of Samples | Fat % | Solids not fat % |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 19 | 3.53 | 8.78 |
| February | 18 | 3.52 | 8.68 |
| March | 18 | 3.44 | 8.70 |
| April | 19 | 3.34 | 8.63 |
| May | 20 | 3.19 | 8.81 |
| June | 12 | 3.40 | 8.81 |
| July | 20 | 3.42 | 8.62 |
| August | 13 | 3.49 | 8.74 |
| September | 18 | 3.56 | 8.80 |
| October | 14 | 3.57 | 8.88 |
| November | 12 | 3.75 | 8.67 |
| December | 17 | 3.62 | 8.76 |
| 200 | 3.48 | 8.74 | |
| Legal Standards | 3.00 | 8.50 | |
| Average composition of normal cow's milk | 3.76 | 8.84 | |
The time of year is one of the chief circumstances on which the
variations in the composition of cows' milk depends and the year may
be divided into four periods according to the character of the milk
yielded. Thus, during period I, i.e. November, December and January,