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
Lewisham 1949
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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Analysis of milk
During the year under review, 46 samples of milk were submitted to the public analyst by the Council's inspectors for examination. None of these samples was certified as adulterated or below standard. The average composition of the samples is set out in the following
table :—
Table 25
| Period | Average composition of samples examined Percentage of | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk fat | Solids not fat | Water | |
| First quarter | 3.51 | 8.81 | 87.68 |
| Second quarter. | 3.76 | 9.01 | 87.23 |
| Third quarter | 3.75 | 8.80 | 87.45 |
| Fourth quarter | 3.54 | 8.89 | 87.57 |
| Average for year | 3.64 | 8.88 | 87.48 |
The legal standard is 3.0 percent milk fat and 8.5 percent solids not fat.
In addition, the following samples of heat-treated milk were submitted to the laboratory for bacteriological examination :—
Table 26
| Milk | Parliamentary division | Total | Result | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | North | South | |||
| Pasteurised | 11 | 4 | 31 | 46 | All satisfactory |
| Sterilised | — | – | 4 | 4 | All satisfactory |
Icecream — grading
During the year 68 samples of icecream were submitted to the laboratory for bacteriological examination with the following results :—
Table 27
| Grading | Parliamentary division | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West | North | South | ||
| Grade I | 1 | 11 | 13 | 25 |
| Grade II | 6 | — | 12 | 18 |
| Grade III | 4 | — | 4 | 8 |
| Grade IV | 10 | 1 | 6 | 17 |
| TOTAL | 21 | 12 | 35 | 68 |