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
St Pancras 1951
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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The 58 samples of ice cream marked * above were taken during the ten months between 1st March and the end of the year and showed a fat content as follows:—
| Fat content per cent. | Number of samples. | Percentage of total samples. |
|---|---|---|
| Over 14 | 1 | 1.72 |
| 13-14 | 3 | 5.15 |
| 12-13 | 3.45 | |
| 11-12 | 3.45 | |
| 10-11 | 3 | 5.15 |
| 9-10 | 13.80 | |
| 8-9 | 10 | 17.26 |
| 7-8 | 10.35 | |
| 6- 7 | 14 | 24.15 |
| 5- 6 | 9 | 15.52 |
Bacteriological Examination.
In addition to the samples of food submitted to the Public Analyst for chemical
examination. 374 samples were submitted either to the Royal Institute of Public Health and
Hygiene, or the Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale, for bacteriological examination.
(a) Milk.
152 samples of milk were taken from dairies and from London County Council schools,
institutions and day nurseries in the Borough to ascertain whether they complied with the
appropriate regulations relating to specially designated milks.
The samples were subjected to the phosphatase test which indicates the efficiency of
the method of heat treatment, and the methylene blue test indicating the keeping quality of
the milk. All complied with the phosphatase test, and 145 proved satisfactory in regard to
the methylene blue test. Appropriate action was taken in the remaining seven eases, and
the follow-up samples were satisfactory.
An analysis of these samples is given in the following table :—
| T.T. (Past) | Past. | Ster. | H.T. | Totals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | |
| L.C.C. Schools and Institutions | — | — | 82 | 4 | — | — | — | 83 | 4 | |
| Day Nurseries | 2 | — | 17 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 19 | 1 |
| Dairies | 8 | — | 21 | 2 | 13 | — | 1 | — | 43 | |
| Totals | 10 | — | 120 | 7 | 14 | — | — | 145 | 7 | |