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 1933
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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The following is a summary of the results of analysis of the 21 adulterated formal and informal samples, together with a record of the action taken by the council :—
| Article analysed. | Nature and amount of adulteration. | Action taken. |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 13 per cent. of the required fat | Informal sample. |
| deficient. | ||
| ,, | 12 | |
| ,, | 10 | No action. |
| ,, | Proceedings. Summons dismissed. | |
| ,, | 7 | No action. |
| ,, | Proceedings. Summons dismissed. | |
| ,, | 6 | Informal sample. |
| ,, | 6 | Vendor cautioned. |
| Milk (hot) | ||
| Milk | Informal sample. | |
| 29 ,, of extraneous water 27 | Proceedings. Fined £20. | |
| * ,, | 23 | Proceedings. Summons dismissed on pay |
| 18 | ment of £2 2s. costs. | |
| Proceedings. Fined £20. | ||
| ,, | Proceedings. Summons dismissed. | |
| Mustard (mixed) | ,, ,, 10 „ wheat starch; 65.3 | Informal sample. |
| per cent, water. | ||
| Nitre, sweet spirit | 100 ,, of required ethyl ni- | |
| of | trite deficient. | |
| 30 ,, ,, | ... . . | |
| Rice | 25 grains of extraneous mineral | Vendor cautioned. |
| matter per lb. | ||
| **Sausages | 41 parts of sulphur dioxide per | Informal sample. |
| million. |
* These samples were obtained from the same vendor.
** This sample of sausages was reported adulterated owing to the presence of the preservative not being
disclosed at the time of sale.
The total number of prosecutions under the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act was 8, the
fines and costs amounting to £62 2s. Od.
The Public Health (Condensed Milk) Regulations, 1923.1927, and the Public Health (Dried Milk)
Regulations, 1923.1927.—During the year, seven samples of condensed milk were taken and each
was found to comply with the regulations in every respect. No samples of dried milk were taken.
Food Poisoning.—Section 7 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932, requires
every medical practitioner in London to notify the medical officer of health of any person whom he
suspects or finds to be suffering from food poisoning. During the year, 434 cases were notified in
London. The number notified in Kensington was 28 ; there were 18 in the Golborne ward, four
in the Norland ward, five in the St. Charles ward and one in the Pembridge ward. It will be
observed that all the Kensington cases occurred in the four northern wards where the majority of
the poor live. It is significant that not a single case was reported from South Kensington.
In the cases notified an analysis of the foods suspected of causing the illness was made and resulted as follows :—
| Food causing illness. | No. of cases. | Food causing illness. | No. of cases. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fish | Meat pie | 1 | |
| Fish, fried | Pork chops | 1 | |
| Ice.cream | Bacon | 1 | |
| Tinned foods | Roast beef | 1 | |
| Sausages | 1 | Cockles and ice.cream | 1 |
| Saveloys and stewed eels | 1 | Rabbit | 1 |
| Black pudding | 1 | Unknown | |
| Steak | 1 | ||
Several articles of food were submitted to the bacteriologist for examination, but in no case
was a report received from him regarding the presence of any of the salmonella group of organisms.
It is also worthy of mention that in every case the illness was only a mild one, and the patient
recovered in a day or two.
Careful enquiries were made in all the cases notified, and it is clear that there was no outbreak
of food poisoning in the borough. Many of the cases notified must be regarded as suspicious rather
than as actual cases of food poisoning.