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 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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made, and in all instances the cleansing which is required to be done
twice a year was carried out.
In the early part of the year a special inspection of bakehouses was
carried out with a view to ascertaining the extent of infestation, if any,
by cockroaches or other vermin. Visits were paid both during the day
and at night, but there was little evidence of infestation. The occupiers
appeared to be fully alive to the need for keeping their premises free
from vermin.
Fried Fish Shops.—There are 25 fried fish shops in the City to which
the food inspectors paid 40 visits. It was necessary to send two notices
for cleansing.
Unsound Food.
The following table shows the nature and quantity of the various
articles of food voluntarily surrendered or submitted for destruction during
the year:—
Table LXXXI.—Unsound Food.
| Article | Tons. | cwts. | qrs. | lbs. | Article. | Tons. | cwts. | qrs. | lbs. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apples | 2 | 18 | 1 | 10 | Lichees | 5 | 2 | 24 | |
| Apricots | 8 | 2 | 0 | Melons | 11 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |
| Artichokes | 1 | 1 | 0 | Mushrooms | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Asparagus | 10 | 0 | 0 | Oranges | 30 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| Beans | 18 | 1 | 0 | Passion Fruit | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Carrots | 2 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Peas | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| Cauliflowers | 13 | 3 | 0 | Peaches | 3 | 0 | 14 | ||
| Chestnuts | 6 | 16 | 3 | 0 | Pears | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Cranberries | 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | Pineapples | 10 | 1 | 16 | |
| Grapes | 20 | 10 | 0 | 0 | Potatoes | 1 | 15 | 0 | 0 |
| Grape Fruit | 19 | 11 | 2 | 0 | Radishes | 1 | 0 | 3 | 14 |
| Green Almonds | 5 | 1 | 0 | Skate | 3 | 0 | |||
| Horse-radish | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | Sprouts | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Lettuce | 3 | 18 | 3 | 14 | Pheasants (4) | ||||
| Limes | 6 | 0 | 0 | Fruit and vegetables 1,925 tins. | |||||
Food Poisoning.
Cases of illness attributed to articles of food purchased or consumed
at premises in the City were investigated during the year:—
(1) Six members of the staff of a hospital in another district were
taken ill after a meal of sausages supplied by a firm in Westminster.
Conditions at the premises where the sausages had
been manufactured were not altogether satisfactory, but no
definite cause of infection could be traced. Other members of
the hospital staff had partaken of the same meal without ill
effects.