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
Wandsworth 1915
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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179
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
MILK AND CREAM.
The number of samples grouped under this heading amounted
to 949. Of these, 877 were taken with the necessary formalities
required by the Acts, whilst 72 were submitted informally.
The samples were comprised as follows :—
| No. of samples examined. | No. of samples found adulterated or not up to standard. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal. | Informal. | Total. | Formal. | Informal. | Total. | |
| Milk | 852 | 8 | 860 | 67 | I | 68 |
| Separated Milk | 20 | 0 | 20 | 1 | 0 | I |
| Cream, fresh | 4 | 32 | 36 | 3 | 6 | 9 |
| Cream, preserved | 1 | 32 | 33 | 0 | 5 | 5 |
| 877 | 72 | 949 | 71 | 12 | 83 | |
There were three forms of adulteration in the case of the milk
samples reported against; namely, deficiency in
milk fat, presence of extraneous water, and a
combination of both these. Deficiency in milk
fat occurred in 29 samples, and ranged from 2 per cent. to 63 per
cent. Extraneous water, in quantities varying between 1 per cent.
and 15 per cent., was found in 37 samples ; whilst extraneous water
accompanied by a deficiency of milk fat occurred in two samples.
The one sample of separated milk reported against contained 13 per
cent. extraneous water.
In no case was preservative found in milk.
M 2
The nature and
extent of the
adulteration
reported.