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9
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF
HEALTH FOR THE YEAR 1910.
To the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor. Aldermen and Commons
of the Corporation of London.
Public Health Department,
Guildhall, E.C.,
1st March, 1911.
Gentlemen,
I have the honour to report upon the work of my Department
during the year 1910
The tendency of modern legislation is to largely increase the duties and
responsibilities of Sanitary Authorities in every direction, and scarcely a
Session passes without some addition to the work of your Officers.
The difficult question of supervision of the food supply is perhaps the
best instance of this increased responsibility.
To the constant control of the Central Markets there is now added the duty
of controlling imports under the powers of the Public Health Food Act.
Your staff of Food Inspectors has been increased, and has further been
strengthened by the appointment of a Veterinary Inspector to act under your
Medical Officer of Health.
This has undoubtedly increased the efficiency of inspection, but in view of
the great extension of work a further addition will shortly become necessary.
The requirements of Foreign Governments as to the inspection and
certification of food for export continuously increase, mainly in consequence of
the restrictions placed on the imports into this country, and while such contro
is most desirable in the interests of the Public Health, it of necessity occupies
much of the time and attention of your Officers.
Some of the special difficulties met with during the year were the presence
of Onchocerca Gibsoni in Australian beef, and the presence of mould in
varying degree in Argentine beef, and are dealt with in detail below.
The milk question, and the necessity for a decently clean supply, which
urgently calls for legislative measures, is referred to, and also the importance
of controlling the presence and amount of preservative in foods generally but
more especially in milk.