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90
The bacteriological examination of food is carried out by
the Pathologists of the University College Hospital Medical
School and the West London Hospital.
In the case of food poisoning specimens are sent to the
Ministry of Health.
On 20th January I received information that a sample
of milk sold by a retail dairyman in Carshalton and supplied
by a Hammersmith wholesale dairy, as wholesalers, had
been submitted to examination, and that the report on such
examination stated that blood, pus and streptococci were
present. This sample had been taken by the Beddington
and Wallington Urban District Council, within whose area
the milk was being sold.
As a consequence of this Report a sample was taken
by the Carshalton Urban District Council upon delivery of
milk to the retailer. The report on this sample stated that
blood and pus were not apparent. Films from the cream
and deposit showed a large number of miscellaneous microorganisms,
including streptococci (long and short chains).
The milk in each of these cases had not been sold under
a "special designation," but had, in fact, been "processed"
(i.e., heated to about 140° F. for 30 minutes).
Enquiries were at once instituted in an endeavour to
trace the source of infection.
The bulk of milk received at the depot is dispatched by
road from the Company's Creameries at Chippenham,
Malmsbury and Savernake in Wiltshire and Chepstow in
Monmouthshire in motor delivery tanks. Each tank
contains milk from a large number of farms. In addition
to these tanks, milk is received in churns direct from the
farms.
Samples from each of the road tanks were submitted
by the wholesalers for bacteriological examination, and
the report on milk from Chippenham, Malmsbury and
Chepstow stated that microscopical examination of the
centrifugalised deposit showed that all were free from pus,
short-chain streptococci and from an excessive amount of