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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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50
The following table has been prepared to show the number of samples (formal and informal) of
good, fair and poor quality milk, all of genuine composition, taken during each quarter of the year:
| Period. | Good quality. | Fair quality. | Poor quality. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938. | ||||
| First quarter | 10 | 90 | 10 | 110 |
| Second quarter ... | 1 | 43 | 41 | 85 |
| Third quarter | 5 | 85 | 12 | 102 |
| Fourth quarter ... | 24 | 133 | — | 157 |
| Totals ... | 40 | 351 | 63 | 454 |
| Percentages | 8-8 | 77-3 | 13-9 | 100 |
Note : The classification of milk according to quality is based on the butter fat content, the
standards adopted being :—
3-8 per cent, butter fat and over—" Good."
Over 3-4 per cent, but under 3-8 per cent.—" Fair."
Over 3 per cent, but under 3-4 per cent.—" Poor."
It will be seen that the second quarter of the year produced the largest percentage of samples
of poor milk and a very small percentage of good milk, and the reverse took place in the fourth
quarter. This experience is common throughout the country.
| Purveyors of milk in sealed bottles. | Dairymen. | Dairies and milkshops. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transfers | 2 | 2 | |
| Added to register | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Vacated and removed from register | _ | 1 | 1 |
| Dairymen with premises outside the borough added to the register | _ | 3 | |
| On register 1st January, 1938 | 165 | 173 | 137 |
| On register 31st December, 1938 | 170 | 177 | 138 |
| (+) Increase. (—) Decrease | +5 | +4 | + 1 |
During the year the council took action under Section 2 of the Milk and Dairies (Amendment)
Act, 1922, to secure the removal of a firm of dairymen from the register. In July last the firm
were suspected of adding a fluid reconstituted from skimmed milk powder to their supplies of fresh
milk. This firm occupied a large dairy overlooking which were a number of flats. One of these was
not occupied for residential purposes, and it was here that the milk was believed to be " manufactured."
A magistrate's warrant was obtained to enable a search of the premises to be carried
out, and a forced entry to the flat was made. In the flat were found drums of skimmed milk powder,
milk-testing apparatus, stirring rods, etc. A hose pipe was found in the dairy, and the markings
on it pointed to its having been used as a connecting pipe between the bathroom and the milk storage
tank in the dairy.
Further investigations revealed that no less than twelve tons of skimmed milk powder had been
purchased by the firm over a period of eighteen months. In addition, quantities of cream, far in
exccss of the assumed normal requirements, had been purchased during the corresponding period.
An attempt was made to examine the books of the firm, but complete records were not made available
to the council's officers ; but from the limited records examined it was brought to light that on some
days over 200 gallons of milk per day were distributed in excess of the amount shown in the books
to have been received bv the firm.
A notice was served upon the company under section 2 of the Milk and Dairies (Amendment)
Act, 1922, requiring them to show cause why their name should not be removed from the council's
register of milk purveyors, and after interviewing the firm's representatives, the council, in July,
decided to remove the company's name from the register absolutely. An appeal was entered, but
on 14th January, 1939, after several hearings at the police court, it was dismissed. The company
at once gave notice of a further appeal to a higher court, but on 7th February they notified the
council of its abandonment. At the time of preparing this report it seems probable that the company
will shortly cease to exist.