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
City of Westminster 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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94
excellence but rather milk which has barely escaped the stigma of adulteration.
The grades of quality as set up by the analysts are as
follows:—
Good quality: Over 3•8 per cent, of fat.
Fair quality: Between 3-3 per cent, and under 3-8 per cent.
Poor quality: Between 3 per cent, and 3.3 per cent.
Adulterated: Below 3 per cent, fat and 8•5 per cent, non-fatty
solids.
The results of the samples taken in each of the two districts of the
City during 1928 are given in the following table:—
Table I.
| District. | Total. | Good Quality. | Fair Quality. | Poor Quality. | Adulterated. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Percent. | NO. | Percent. | No. | Percent. | No. | Percent. | ||
| 404 | 212 | 45.6 | 186 | 400 | 60 | 12 9 | |||
| 440 | 198 | 45.0 | 187 | 42.5 | 41 | 9.3 | 14 | ||
| 904 | 410 | 45 3 | 373 | 41 2 | 101 | 11.1 | 2.2 | ||
| 1927 | 914 | 511 | 54.1 | 345 | 36-5 | 71 | 7.5 | 17 | |
| 1926 | 910 | 502 | 55.1 1 | 298 | 32.7 | 100 | 10-9 | 10 | |
| 1925 | 970 | 489 | 50.4 | 3118 | 379 | 98 | 101 | 15 | |
| 1924 | 994 | 507 | 51.0 | 363 | 36 5 | 105 | 10.5 | 19 | 1.90 |
| 1923 | 997 | 468 | 45.9 | 368 | 36.9 | 149 | 14 9 | ||
| 1922 | 998 | 493 | 49.4 | 338 | 33.8 | 138 | 13.8 | 29 | |
| 1921 | 977 | 449 | 45.9 | 362 | 37.0 | 131 | 13.4 | 35 | |
| 1920 | 987 | 321 | 32.5 | 400 | 40.5 | 236 | 23.9 | 30 | |
| 1919 | 1,073 | 375 | 34.9 | 428 | 398 | 201 | 18.7 | 69 | |
| 1918 | 919 | 320 | 34.8 | 302 | 32.8 | 194 | 212 | 103 | |
| 1917 | 920 | 329 | 35.7 | 304 | 33.0 | 162 | 17 6 | 125 | |
| 1916 | 919 | 235 | 25.5 | 360 | 39.1 | 221 | 22.8 | 103 | |
| 1915 | 937 | 303 | 32.3 | 327 | 34.8 | 225 | 24.0 | 82 | |
| 1914 | 94 | 250 | 27.9 | 364 | 40.7 | 217 | 24.2 | 63 | |
| 1913 | 910 | 255 | 28.0 | 343 | 37.6 | 233 | 25.6 | ||
| 1912 | 873 | 251 | 28.7 | 297 | 34.0 | 252 | 28.8 | 73 | |
| 1911 | 911 | 305 | 33.3 | 311 | 34.1 | 218 | 23. 9 | ||
| 1910 | 947 | 332 | 35.0 | 328 | 346 | 179 | 189 | 108 | |
The quality of the milk supplied to the City still maintains a high
standard.
Legal Proceedings for Adulteration.—Of the 20 cases, 5 were considered
sufficiently serious to warrant prosecution. Details pf the offences
and results of proceedings are set out below.
Milk— Fine. Cost*.
3 per cent, added water Summons dismissed. -—
5 per cent, fat abstracted Summons dismissed £2 2$.
(Probation of Offenders
Act)
14 per cent, fat abstracted .... £2. —
10 per cent, fat abstracted .... £2. —.
29 per cent, fat abstracted .... lOg. £2 2s.
Of the total 901 samples of milk taken during the year, 12 were
obtained on Sundays. All of the latter proved to be genuine.