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 1960
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Pancras, Metropolitan Borough]
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Bacteriological Examination
In addition to the samples of food submitted to the Public Analyst for
chemical examination 135 samples were taken by the Council s Pood Inspectors
and submitted to the Central Public Health Laboratory Colindale for bacteriological
examination., as follows -
(a) Milk
80 samples were subjected to the phosphatase test which indicates the
efficiency of the method of heat treatment and the methylene blue test which
indicates the keeping quality of the milk. All complied with the appropriate
regulations relating to designated milk.
Details of the samples are given in the following table -
| T.T. (Past.) | Past. | Ster. | Totals | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | |
| Hospitals | - | _ | 4 | _ | _ | - | 4 | - |
| L.C.C. schools | ||||||||
| and Institutions | - | - | 42 | _ | _ | - | 42 | - |
| Day nurseries | 1 | - | 13 | - | - | - | 14 | - |
| Distributors | 8 | - | 10 | - | 4 | - | 20 | - |
| Totals | 7 | - | 69 | - | 4 | - | 80 | - |
(b) Ice-cream
40 samples were taken mostly from manufacturers, of which 36 reached grades
1 or 2 when subjected to the methylene blue test.
The following table shows the detailed results of these examinations for the year 1960 and preceding years -
| 19S6 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samples | % | Samples | % | Samples | % | Samples | % | Samples | % | |
| Satisfactory - | ||||||||||
| Grade I | 67 | 81.48 | 39 | 60.0 | 32 | 61 6 | 24 | 66.5 | 26 | 65.0 |
| Grade II | 11 | 13.58 | 19 | 29. 2 | 14 | 26.9 | 5 | 14.0 | 10 | 25.0 |
| Unsatisfactory - | ||||||||||
| Grade III | 2 | 2.47 | 7 | 10,8 | 1 | 1 9 | 5 | 14,0 | 2 | 5.0 |
| Grade IV | 2 | 2.47 | - | - | 5 | 9,6 | 2 | 5 5 | 2 | 5.0 |
| Totals | 82 | 100,00 | 65 | 100,00 | 52 | 100,00 | 36 | 100.00 | 40 | 100.00 |
(c) Synthetic cream etc.
12 samples of synthetic cream and 3 of other commodities were found to be
satisfactory.
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