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
Hampstead 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hampstead Borough]
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The following table shows the grading of ice cream samples taken at the fairground since the war:-
| Year | No. of Samples Taken | Grading under Meth. Blue Test | Percentages of Grades 1 and 2 Samples | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |||
| 1948 | 8 | Nil | 3 | 2 | 3 | 37.5 |
| 1949 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 33.3 |
| 1950 | 20 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 70.0 |
| 1951 | 38 | 23 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 77.8 |
| 1952 | 38 | 15 | 10 | 11 | 2 | 65.7 |
| 1953 | 42 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 66.6 |
| 1954 | 34 | 28 | 2 | - | 4 | 82.3 |
| 1955 | 11 | 10 | - | - | 1 | 90.9 |
| 1956 | 25 | 19 | 4 | - | 2 | 92.0 |
FOOD SAMPLING
(a) Bacteriological examination of food stuffs
This service is undertaken by the Central Public
Health Laboratory. I am greatly indebted to the Director of
the Laboratory for unfailing cooperation and help.
Details of the ice cream and milk samples submitted
to bacteriological examination appear under the respective
headings. 51 other samples were taken for examination. Some
were routine samples; others for confirmation of unsound or
defective tinning, etc. and a proportion were from suspected
cases of food poisoning.
(b) Samples submitted to Chemical Analysis
Mr. Eric Voelcker, A.R.C.S., F.R.I.C., Public Analyst
to the Borough, has examined and reported upon 503 samples
which can be classified under the following broad headings:-