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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During the year 21 samples of Tuberculin Tested milk and 108 of Pasteurised milk were taken for the purpose of ascertaining whether they complied with the bacteriological standards laid down in the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1936, which are as follows:—
| Grade. | Maximum no. of bacteria permitted per ml. | Standard for bacillus coli. |
|---|---|---|
| Tuberculin Tested | No bacterial standard, but must conform to a prescribed methylene blue reduction test. | Must not be found in l/100th ml. |
| Pasteurised | 100,000 | No standard prescribed. |
The results of the examinations are shown in the following tables:—
| Samples collected on | Methylene blue test. | Bacillus coli. |
|---|---|---|
| 23rd February | Satisfactory | Absent. |
| „ | ||
| 30th March | „ | „ |
| „ | „ | |
| „ | „ | |
| * „ „ | „ | Present in 1·100 ml. |
| * 6th April | „ | „ „ 1·100 „ |
| 27th April | „ | Absent. |
| 20th July | „ | |
| „ | Present in 1·100 „ | |
| „ | Absent. | |
| * 6th September | „ | Present in 1·100 „ |
| * „ „ | „ | „ „ 1·100 „ |
| * „ „ | „ | „ „ 1·100 „ |
| „ „ | „ | Absent. |
| „ „ | „ | „ |
| 22nd December | „ | „ |
| „ „ | „ | „ |
| „ „ | „ | „ |
| „ „ | „ | „ |
| „ „ | „ | „ |
* In each of these cases a warning letter was sent to the vendor.
| Samples collected on | Bacteria per ml. | Samples collected on | Bacteria per ml. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25th January | 5,800 | 8th March | 1,250 |
| „ „ | 6,400 | „ „ | 58,000 |
| „ „ | 2,500 | „ „ | 338,000 |
| „ „ | 7,800 | 30th March | 9,300 |
| „ „ | 250 | „ „ | 9,100 |
| 1st February | 28,500 | „ „ | 9,400 |
| „ „ | 75,000 | „ „ | 34,800 |
| „ „ | 56,000 | „ „ | 30,100 |
| „ „ | 25,500 | „ „ | 55,200 |
| „ „ | 12,400 | „ „ | 17,200 |
| 8th February | 2,800 | 6th April | 204,000 |
| „ „ | 37,000 | ||
| „ „ | 18,500 | „ „ | 250 |
| „ „ | 21,000 | „ „ | 2,300 |
| „ „ | 96,000 | „ „ | 2,100 |
| 16th February | 1,500 | „ „ | 43,000 |
| „ „ | 38,000 | 27th April | 33,000 |
| „ „ | 12,100 | „ „ | 13,800 |
| „ „ | 79,000 | „ „ | 88,000 |
| „ „ | 66,000 | „ „ | 113,000 |
| „ „ | 83,000 | „ „ | 104,000 |
| 23rd February | 49,000 | „ „ | 146,000 |
| „ „ | 26,500 | 2nd June | 25,600 |
| „ „ | 289,000 | „ „ | 9,200 |
| „ „ | 98,000 | „ „ | 8,600 |
| „ „ | 94,000 | „ „ | 6,200 |
| „ „ | 185,000 | „ „ | 11,700 |
| „ „ | 4,800 | „ „ | 152,000 |