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
Bethnal Green 1937
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Bethnal Green Borough]
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76
submitted by the Inspectors. No samples were submitted
by the public under the Act.
One hundred and nine of these samples were purchased
informally.
Thirty-three samples were found to be adulterated, 28
formal and 5 informal.
The adulteration was at the rate of 4.49 per cent., as
compared with 3.38 per cent, for the whole of London and
5.3 per cent, for the whole of England and Wales in 1936.
The rate of adulteration in the Borough for the past ten years was as follows :—
| Year | No. of Samples examined | Percentage of adulteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 735 | 4.5 |
| 1936 | 724 | 2.6 |
| 1935 | 704 | 8.2 |
| 1934 | 735 | 6.1 |
| 1933 | 738 | 7.7 |
| 1932 | 718 | 7.9 |
| 1931 | 749 | 7.1 |
| 1930 | 737 | 6.5 |
| 1929 | 750 | 8.0 |
| 1928 | 731 | 9.3 |
| Average | 732 | 6.8 |
The number of samples examined was at the rate of
7.59 per 1,000 of the population as compared with 9.92 per
1,000 for the whole of London and 3.6 per 1,000 for the whole
of England and Wales in 1936.
Three hundred and sixty-five samples of milk were
examined, 12 of which, or 3.29 per cent., were reported as
adulterated.
The milk adulteration in the Borough for the past ten years was as follows
| Year | No. of Samples examined | Percentage of adulteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 365 | 3.3 |
| 1936 | 393 | 1.8 |
| 1935 | 390 | 5.1 |
| 1934 | 407 | 5.7 |
| 1933 | 355 | 5.6 |
| 1932 | 332 | 6.4 |
| 1931 | 303 | 3.0 |
| 1930 | 296 | 6.8 |
| 1929 | 287 | 5.2 |
| 1928 | 306 | 8.2 |
| Average | 343 | 5.1 |