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
Holborn 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Holborn Borough]
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During the year 1935 licences available up to the 31st December, 1935, for the sale of designated milk in the Borough were issued as follows:-
| Certified | 2 |
| Grade A (Tuberculin Tested) | 2 |
| Grade A (Pasteurised) | 1 |
| Pasteurised | 8 |
| Supplementary— | |
| Grade A (Tuberculin Tested) | 1 |
| Pasteurised | 3 |
| 37 |
Bacteriological Examination of Milk.
Twenty-five samples of milk were examined for the presence of tubercle
bacillus. The animals inoculated with respect to these milks were killed at the
end of six weeks. It is satisfactory to record that in no case was any evidence
disclosed of tubercle infection.
Eight of the twenty-five samples mentioned above were also examined to ascertain the number of organisms per cubic centimetre and the smallest volume containing coliform bacillus. The results of these examinations are shown in the following table:-
| Date of sample obtained. | Nature of shop where purchased. | Grade | No. of organisms per c.c. grown at 37C for 24 hours. | Minimal volume containing Bacillus Coli. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 10th July | Dairy | Ungraded | 300,000 | Present in 0.001 c.c. |
| 14th August | Restaurant | Ungraded | 4,500 | Absent in 1 c.c. |
| 11th September | School | Pasteurised | 67,000 | Present in 0.01 c.c. |
| Do. | Dairy | Grade A. (T.T.) | 19,000 | Present in 0.01 c.c. 1 tube |
| 9th October | Dairy | Certified | 250,000 | Absent in 2 tubes Present in 0.1 c.c. 2 tubes |
| 29th Do. | Dairy | Certified | 20,800 | Absent in 0.1 c.c. 3 tubes |
| Do. | Dairy | Grade A. (T.T.) | 850 | Absent in 0.01 c.c. 3 tubes |
| Do. | Dairy | Grade A. (T.T.) | 3,180 | Absent in 0.01 c.c. 3 tubes |
It will be seen that one sample purchased from a dairy failed to comply with
the conditions laid down by the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923. This
sample was found to contain 250,000 organisms per c.c. in comparison with 30,000
permitted by the Order. Also Bacillus Coli was present in 0.1 c.c. Letters were
c