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

London County Council 1904

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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18
As regards standards, this aspect of the question has been dealt with in a previous section
(Section V.).
In conclusion, it is desirable to lay stress on the biological attributes of the B. coli or coli-like
microbes isolated from the water and cress. The results are shown in Tables I., II., III., IV., and in
Appendices A, B, C.
It should be noted that a larger proportion of the B. coli isolated were atypical than is found in
the case of normal human faeces, sewages, and sewage effluents. The greater the percentage of a typical
B. coli, the less obvious is the danger. Unfortunately, it is impossible to lay down any formula to
link together the biological attributes and numerical abundance of B. coli or coli-like microbes.
It is specially to be noted that the number of "flaginac" B. coli isolated from (a) the waters,
(b) the first and final washing of the cress, and (c) the cress was 76, 54 and 40 per cent. respectively. This
circumstance ought to be borne in mind in judging the wholesomeness or otherwise of cress.
A. C. Houston.

Table: AppendixA.—Analysis of the biological attributes of42B. coli or coli-like microbes isolated from the waters.—(Section I.)FlaginacB.coli, about76per cent.

AppendixA.—Analysis of the biological attributes of42B. coli or coli-like microbes isolated from the waters.—(Section I.)

FlaginacB.coli, about76per cent.

Aginac B. coli, about 7 per cent.(in) B coli, about 2.4 per cent
fl (ag) „ 5 „flag(ac) „ 2.4 „
flagac „ 2.4 „(fl)aginac „ 2.4 „
flag „ 2.4 „

Table: Appendix B.—Analysis of the biological attributes of 52B.coli or coli-like microbes isolated from the first and final "washings" of the cress.—(Section II.)Flaginac B. coli, about 54 per cent.

Appendix B.—Analysis of the biological attributes of 52B.coli or coli-like microbes isolated from the first and final "washings" of the cress.—(Section II.)

Flaginac B. coli, about 54 per cent.

flag(ac) B. coli, about 8 per cent.fl(ag)(ac) B. coli about 2 per cent.
fl(ao) „ 6 „inac „ 2 „
rlinac „ 4 „0 „ 2 „
fl)aginac „ 4 „(fl)ag(ac) „ 2 „
fl(ag) „ 4 „flag „ 2 „
din(ac) „ 2 „fl „ 2 „
flagin(ac) „ 2 „(fl)agac „ 2 „
fl(ag)in(ac) „ 2 „(fl)inac ,, 2 „

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[Slow liquefiers about 18 per cent.]

Table: Appendix C.—Analysis of the biological attributes of 81 B. coli or coli-like microbes isolated from the primary medium into which the cress had been previously directly introduced.—(Sections III. and IV )Flaginac B. coli, about40per cent.

Appendix C.—Analysis of the biological attributes of 81 B. coli or coli-like microbes isolated from the primary medium into which the cress had been previously directly introduced.—(Sections III. and IV )

Flaginac B. coli, about40per cent.

dagac B. coli, about 14 per cent.(ag)ac B. coli, about 1.2 per cent.
flag„ 8 „agac „ 1.2 „
(fl)aginac „ 3.7 „0 „ 1.2 „
fl(ag) „ 3.7 „flag(in) „ 1.2 „
fl(ag)ac „ 2.4 „flin „ 1.2 „
fl „ 2.4 „flinac„ 1.2 „
(fl)ag „ 2.4 „in „ 1.2 „
(ag)inac „ 2.4 „ag „ 1.2 „
flag(ac) „ 2.4 „(fl)(ag)inac „ 1.2 „
(fl)(ac) „ 1.2 „aginac „ 1.2 „
(fl)(ag)(ac) „ 1.2 „fl(ag)in „ 1.2 „