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
Paddington 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Paddington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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Some of the premises registered manufacture or sell " Lollies " (water ices) only. On the whole, the standard ot
ice-cream has been good, and whilst the methylene blue test produced some " Grade IV " results, this does not mean
that the ice-cream was unwholesome or of poor quality.
Following is a summary of the samples submitted to this test during the year :—
| Number Submitted | Grade I | Grade II | Grade III | Grade IV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
The bacterial count ranged from 400,000 to 250 at 37° C.
As long ago as 1898 an exhaustive investigation into the method of manufacture and quality of ice cream was
carried out in Paddington, and a few of the results of analyses then made are produced here for comparison. They
show, very forcibly, that the supervision now possible over the manufacture of ice-cream has resulted in a much
higher standard of cleanliness :—
Analyses of Ice-Cream Samples taken in 1898
| General Description of Sample | Estimated No. of Bacteria in 1 c.c. | Bacillus Coli Communis | " Foreign " material found in sediment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custard colour, frothy, faint putrifactive smell | 7,400,000 | Very numerous .. | No obvious " added " dirt. |
| Light custard colour, faint indefinite smell | 4,354,000 | Very numerous .. | Large quantity of amorphous dirt, linen fibre, minute round worm. |
| Light custard colour, faint indefinite smell | 1,509,000 | Numerous | Human hair, linen fibre, coarse amorphous dirt. |
| " Strawberry Ice" colour, distinct " sour milk " smell | 1,214,000 | Numerous | Very little added dirt, a few animal epithelial cells, strawberry fruit debris. |
During 1948 movements were on foot to obtain still further supervision and control over the manufacture and sale
of ice-cream by (a) the removal of the exemption from registration under Section 14 of the Food & Drugs Act, 1938, of
clubs, hotels and restaurants, and (b) by amendment of the law so as to provide for registration of all street vendors
of ice-cream in order that the Ice-Cream (Heat Treatment) Regulations, 1947 could be more effectively administered.
There is still a shortage of cooling apparatus, and because of this the operative date of Regulation 3 (b) (iii) of the
Regulations was altered from 1st May, 1948 to 1st May, 1949.
FILM SHOWS.—To enable the public to obtain a more intimate knowledge of the public health functions of the Council
than can be achieved by posters and leaflets, a programme of suitable films was arranged by the Public Health
Committee. The first of the series was shown at the Reading Room, Porchester Road Libarry, on the 3rd November,
1948 ; and a monthly series commencing on the 12th November was also arranged to be shown alternately at the
Town Hall and the Maternity and Child Welfare Centre, Harrow Road, to terminate on the 11th March, 1949. The
attendance at the Porchester Road Library Reading Room was distinctly encouraging, but at the subsequent shows
in November and December, however, the attendances dropped considerably. Whilst it is early yet to prophesy the
reactions of the public to this new venture, nevertheless, it is hoped that future attendances will encourage the efforts
of the Council in their endeavour to bring the local public health activities more closely to the attention of the people
of Paddington.
HOLIDAY HOME FOR ELDERLY PEOPLE.—The need for a holiday home for elderly people was considered by
the members of the Public Health Committee, and it was eventually decided that such an establishment would be a
suitable welfare service which the Council could render to elderly residents of the Borough. After exploring many
properties situated both in the country and at the seaside, the selection fell on the suitable property of " Kincardine "
Brassey Road, Bexhill-on-Sea, which, after allowing for a resident Manageress and Chambermaid/waitress, provided
accommodation for 16 visitors.