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proceedings were instituted : the summons was dismissed owing
to a technicality in the wording of the summons arising out of a
decision of the High Court some weeks previously. Three samples
(of meat and fish) were submitted for bacteriological examination.
At the request of the Ministry of Food, 18 samples of milk were
tested for the presence of Phosphatase and 18 samples underwent
the Methylene Blue test. The Phosphatase test is applied to
pasteurised milk, and its absence proves that the pasteurising
process has been efficiently carried out. The Methylene Blue test
is applied to " designated " milk, including pasteurised milk, for
the purpose of determining keeping quality. Five samples were
reported as unsatisfactory' and the results were communicated to
the Ministry of Food.
Legal proceedings were taken in two cases against restaurant
proprietors for supplying horse flesh contrary to the provisions of
the Food and Drugs Act. Fines, amounting in the first case to
£2 and £4 4s. costs and in the second case to £20 and £5 5s. costs,
were imposed.
Approximately 18 tons of food (excluding that damaged by
enemy action) was certified as being unfit for human consumption.
Any unsound food which was considered suitable for animal feeding
was disposed of for that purpose, so that only a small quantity
was actually destroyed.
Two hundred and fourteen pigs were inspected at the time of
slaughter. Three whole pigs and two heads were found to be
diseased and were destroyed. All the pigs were the property of
pig clubs. While there is no legal authority for these to be inspected,
the owners have agreed that it is in the common interest that
inspection should be carried out.
Scabies and Verminous Persons.
Cleansing Centre.
For many years past there have been agreements with two
adjoining boroughs for the use on payment of their cleansing
centres for Lambeth residents. The Public Health Committee
agreed in principle to the conversion of premises adjoining the
disinfecting station into a cleansing centre, but the impossibility
of gaining permission to do the work, even if labour and materials
were available, has held up the project for the time being.
A total of 1,883 persons were treated at the cleansing station and
given 3,288 baths, compared with 1,913 persons treated in the
previous year.