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
Kensington 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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| Sample collected on | Bacteria per 1 c.c. | Sample collected on | Bacteria per 1 c.c. |
|---|---|---|---|
| ‡*20th January | 299,000 | 16td March | 3,900 |
| *10th February | 35,000 | 16td March | 6,900 |
| *10th February | 49,000 | 8td June | 4,200 |
| *10th February | 30,000 | 8td June | 8,500 |
| *17td February | Plates uncountable owing to spreading organisms | 21st June | 15,900 |
| †*28th June | 1,108,000 | ||
| * 5th July | 80,000 | ||
| 17th February | ,, | 22nd September | 1,320 |
| 17th February | ,, | 22nd September | 1,100 |
| * 2nd March | ,, | * 4th October | 41,000 |
| * 2nd March | 14,700 | * 4th October | 32,000 |
| * 9th March | Plates uncountable owing to spreading organisms | * 2nd November | 46,000 |
| 8th November | 1,800 | ||
| 8th November | 5,500 | ||
| * 9th March | ,, |
‡ No action was taken in this case, owing to the method of sampling being experimental.
† Proceedings were taken in respect of this sample and a fine of £4, together with one guinea costs, was imposed.
The samples marked with an asterisk were taken from bulk supplied immediately before
delivery to hospitals and similar institutions. The other samples were from milk which had been
bottled on the pasteuriser's premises, and it is significant that only two have a bacterial count in
excess of 7,000 organisms per cubic centimetre
Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924.—These Regulations provide that no person may
slaughter any animal without first giving verbal or written notice to the council of his intention.
Upon receipt of such notice, the council's food inspector attends during the slaughtering process
whether by day or night, and examines all carcases immediately afterwards. During the year
135 slaughterhouse inspections were made.
The following table shows the number of animals slaughtered in the borough in 1932 :—
| January | 1 | 42 |
| February | 2 | 30 |
| March | 3 | 37 |
| April | 5 | 32 |
| May | 4 | 28 |
| June | 3 | 37 |
| July | 4 | 31 |
| August | — | 12 |
| September | 3 | 29 |
| October | 1 | 38 |
| November | — | 51 |
| December | 4 | 134 |
| Totals | 30 | 501 |
Diseased meat condemned during this period was as follows :—
Forequarters 2
Livers 7
Lungs 17
Slaughter Houses.—These were licensed by the London County Council last October, and of
the four Kensington licences granted in 1931 only two were renewed in 1932. The premises
are kept in a cleanly condition, and from a structural point of view are not open to objection.
By-laws prescribing humane slaughtering came into operation in London in 1924, and
approved methods have been adopted at each of the slaughterhouses in the borough. The
-council's food inspector makes frequent inspections to satisfy himself that these humane methods
of slaughtering are applied satisfactorily.
Bakehouses.—There are 85 bakehouses in the borough, and of this number 62 are underground.
As a result of 147 inspections which were made during the year, three notices were
served for the cleansing of walls and ceilings.