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
City of London 1928
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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Sample No. 17.—"Twenty-four cows in milk were examined, and microscopical examination
of the samples of milk from the following cows, which, in the opinion of the Veterinary
Surgeon, might be suspected of giving tuberculous milk, has failed to reveal the presence of
acid-fast bacilli in all three instances:—
1. Red and white shorthorn cow: coughing.
2. Red shorthorn cow: induration of udder on right side.
3. White and red polled cow: coughing and thin.
Of the remainder of the herd, none showed clinical signs of tuberculosis.
The fourth case, Sample No. 48, is still the subject of investigation.
For purposes of comparison the following summary of results, obtained since the examination of milk on arrival in the City was first commenced in 1904, is here inserted.
| Year. | Percentage showing Tuberculous Infection. | Year. | Percentage showing Tuberculous Infection. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1904 | 7.7 per cent. | 1919 | 14.8 per cent. | |
| 1905 | 9.1 „ „ | 1921 | 24.2 „ „ | (1st series) |
| 1906 | 8.0 „ „ | 26.3 „ „ | (2nd „ ) | |
| 1907 | 8.3 „ „ | 12.5 „ „ | (3rd „ ) | |
| 1909 | 12.5 ,, ,, (1st series) | 1922 | 9.5 „ „ | |
| 4.7 „ „ (2nd „ ) | 1923 | 2.6 „ „ | ||
| 1910 | 6.25 „ „ | 1924 | 12.8 „ „ | |
| 1912 | 6.6 „ „ | 1925 | 2.4 „ „ | (1st series) |
| 1913 | 10.4 „ „ | 2.4 „ „ | (2nd „ ) | |
| 1914 | 10.2 „ „ | 1926 | „ „ | |
| 1915 | 8.5 „ „ | 1927 | 4.88 ,, „ | |
| 1917 | 4.2 „ „ | 1928 | 8.3 ,, ,, | |
The chemical examination showed that, with one exception, all the samples were samples
of genuine milk. The exception was found to be adulterated to the extent of 2% added
water. Further samples were taken from the same consignor, and in consequence of sophistication,
legal proceedings were instituted.
According to the most recent research work, the reliability of the intradermal inoculation
test for tuberculosis in cattle, as compared with the subcutaneous, is such that, out of 835
non-reactors to the subcutaneous, 122 reacted positively to the intradermal test ; autopsy
performed in 94 animals confirmed the diagnosis in every case.
The advantages of the new test are reduction of the Veterinary Surgeon's visits to three
instead of eight, the animal need not be kept indoors, milk yield is unaffected, and the test
is without risk to pregnant or young animals. Doping by tuberculin does not nullify the
test, and the test can successfully be repeated at intervals of three weeks.
The ease of performance and comparative certainty of the intradermal test should make
for rapid and effective working at that end of the field—the milch herd—at which prevention
is most possible and logical.
SUPERVISION OF FOOD AND DRUGS.
During the year 1928, 1,000 samples of Food and Drugs were submitted to the Public
Analyst for examination. Of this number, 706 were taken as test samples without the
formalities of the Acts being observed, of these, 8, which comprise the following, were
reported against:—
1 of Butter, out of 71 samples taken.
1 of Condensed Full Cream Milk—Sweetened, out of 2 samples taken.
1 of Liniment of Turpentine, out of 4 samples taken.
1 of Orange and Quinine Wine, out of 5 samples taken.
1 of Sausages (Not Preserved), out of 29 samples taken.
1 of Sausage Preservative Powder, out of 6 samples taken.
1 of Sweet Spirit of Nitre, out of 2 samples taken.
1 of White Precipitate Ointment, out of 9 samples taken.
Of the formal samples, 16, out of 294, were found to be adulterated, as follows:—
13 of Milk, out of 252 samples taken.
1 of Sweet Spirit of Nitre, out of 1 sample taken.
1 of Whisky, out of 14 samples taken.
1 of White Precipitate Ointment, out of 1 sample taken.
The above-mentioned samples, with the exception of Milk and Whisky, were taken as
the result of informal samples having been certified as adulterated.