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
Battersea 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Battersea Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
The content of fat in these 689 samples ranged as follows :—
| 4 per cent, and over | 40 samples or | 5.8 per cent. |
|---|---|---|
| Between 3.9 and 4.0 per cent. | 33 „ „ | 4.8 „ |
| „ 3.8 „ 3.9 „ | 46 „ „ | 6.7 „ |
| „ 3.7 „ 3.8 „ | 70 „ „ | 10.2 „ |
| „ 3.6 „ 3.7 „ | 103 „ „ | 14.9 „ |
| „ 3.5 „ 3.6 | 106 „ „ | 15.4 „ |
| ,, 3.4 ,, 3.5 ,, | 118 „ „ | 17.1„ |
| „ 3.3 „ 3.4 „ | 87 „ „ | 12.6 „ |
| „ 3.2 „ 3.3 „ | 47 „ „ | 6.8 „ |
| „ 3.1 „ 3.2 „ | 26 „ „ | 3.8 „ |
| „ 3.0 „ 31 „ | 13 „ „ | 1.9 „ |
| Under 3.0 per cent. | — | |
| 689 | 100.0 |
All samples were systematically tested for the presence of preservatives
and colouring matter. In no case, however, was a positive
result obtained.
Milk sampling was carried out on 5 Sundays during the year,
and 28 samples were purchased for analysis on these occasions.
Samples of milk in course of delivery by wholesale firms to the
number of 43 were taken during the year. Most of these samples
were taken at Clapham Junction or South Lambeth (G.W.) Railway
Stations. Samples of milk to the number of 100 were taken in
course of delivery to hospitals and elementary schools in the
borough. The supply of milk to hospitals and institutions is kept
under careful supervision and samples are periodically taken not
only for chemical analysis for adulteration or sophistication, but
also to ascertain its bacteriological condition and cleanliness.
No samples were taken in course of delivery during the year
at the request of the Medical Officers of Health of neighbouring
boroughs under the provisions of Sees. 21 and 29 and the Second
Schedule of the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928, which
permits the vendor to require (within 60 hours) the Council to
take samples from a corresponding delivery or milking. During
the year advantage was however taken of these provisions by
14 milk purveyors in regard to 19 samples of milk. Seventeen of
these samples having been certified to be genuine no action was
necessary on the request. In the two remaining cases (Samples
Nos. 758 and 288), in which adulteration had been certified, further
samples were taken in accordance with the request, but both were
certified to be genuine.
Proceedings with regard to adulteration were taken in 6
instances (including the 2 cases just mentioned)—fat abstractions,
5; extraneous water, 1, particulars relating to which will be found
set out in the tables on page 82.