London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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London County Council 1950

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

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27
During the year 2,951 searches were made in connection with enquiries concerning
properties scheduled as dangerous structures.
Dangerous
structures

Tuberculous Milk The following are details of the sampling for biological examination of milk coming into London in churns by road and rail and the results of the examinations:—

Source of sampleDesignationSamplesPercentage positive of completed samples
TotalPositiveIncompleteNegative19501949
(a) Supplied toOrdinary47513104522.82.5
London byAccredited1100**
road and rail in churns.Tuberculin tested130013
(b) Plant at London depots.Pasteurised110011——
(c) Residential schools.Ordinary3003
Total50314104792.82.5

* A percentage would be unreliable owing to the few samples taken in 1949 and 1950.
Owing to the relatively small quantities of accredited milk received in London
only one sample was secured. Further samples of milk from this source were not
taken during 1950 as the herd was under investigation by the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries. The herd was subsequently declared free from infection, one tuberculous
cow having been slaughtered before the investigation was completed.
As a result of investigations by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries into the
origin of positive samples from 8 other herds, 12 tuberculous cows were removed and
slaughtered under the provisions of the Tuberculosis Order, 1938. Two other cows
removed from one of these herds before investigations were complete, were also found
to be tuberculous.
The sources of infection of two other herds were presumed to be two cows
disposed of before investigations into the origin of positive samples were complete.
No sources of infection in three herds could be traced and the herds have since
been declared free from infection.
Sanitary inspection
Reports of 289 instances of infestation were received from 249 establishments
controlled by the Council, e.g., restaurants, schools, rest centres and parks. Infestation
by rats, mice, cockroaches, bugs, ants, flies, fleas, mosquitoes, moths, etc., were
dealt with and 212 of the disinfestations were satisfactorily completed by the end of
the year.
Disinfestation
The disinfestation of dwelling houses owned by the Council is undertaken by the
staff of the Housing and Valuation Department. Advice on the latest methods of
control is given as occasion arises.
2,130 visits of inspection were made to 563 civic restaurants, kitchens and school
meals centres. 34 reports of illness following meals were investigated. In one case
only was contamination of food confirmed bacteriologically. This was beef and a
butcher handling the meat before delivery to the kitchen concerned was found to
harbour the same organism as that discovered in the meat.
Restaurants
& catering
Regular inspections, at least once a quarter, were made of 59 homes, hostels,
rest centres and other premises in connection with sanitary conditions.
c.
Welfareestablish
ments