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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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The following table shows the percentage fat-content in each of the 194 samples, the average fat-content being 3.7 per cent.:-
| Percentage of Fat. | No. of Samples. | Percentage of Fat. | No. of Samples. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.9 | 1 | 4.1 | 5 |
| 2.7 | 1 | 4.3 | 2 |
| 3.0 | 1 | 4.4 | 2 |
| 3.1 | 6 | 4.5 | 1 |
| 3.2 | 6 | 4.6 | 2 |
| 3.3 | 12 | 4.8 | 1 |
| 3.4 | 21 | 5.0 | 1 |
| 3.5 | 26 | 5.1 | 2 |
| 3.6 | 26 | 5.5 | 1 |
| 3.7 | 34 | 5.9 | 2 |
| 3.8 | 18 | 6.2 | 1 |
| 3.9 | 13 | 7.1 | 1 |
| 4.0 | 8 | - | |
| Total | 194 | ||
In the above table it will be noticed that seven samples had a fat-content exceeding
5 per cent. Five of these were taken at a railway terminus from churns containing milk
from Jersey cows. Two others were samples from counter pans in shops where plungers
were not in use, and the attention of the proprietors was directed to the duty devolving
upon them to keep the milk well plunged, so that its consistency remains uniform and each
portion served has its proper proportion of cream.
Seven purveyors of milk from whom samples had been taken availed themselves of
the provisions of the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act, 1928, and served notice upon
the Authority requesting samples of milk to be procured in course of delivery from their
suppliers.
MILK-IN-SCHOOLS SCHEME.
The practice of taking samples both for chemical and bacteriological examinations
quarterly from each of the contractors supplying milk under this scheme, upon delivery
to the schools, has been continued. Milk that has been pasteurised in accordance with
the requirements of the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1936, only is supplied, and this
Order requires that, on a sample being taken, it shall not contain more than 100,000 bacteria
per millilitre. All the samples taken for chemical analysis were certified genuine, but one
of the bacteriological samples exceeded the limit mentioned. The contractor was communicated
with and the circumstances investigated. An early repeat sample proved satisfactory,
and the Medical Officer of Health of the London County Council was informed.
/
THE MILK AND DAIRIES ORDER, 1926, AND
THE MILK AND DAIRIES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1922.
Seventeen new applications for registration as purveyors of milk within the City were
received and granted. Additional to these applications, a wholesaler, who had no business
premises of his own, withdrew an application on being informed that registration could not
be recommended on account of the unsatisfactory method in collection of milk from his
suppliers. Incidentally, an adjoining Authority also refused to register him. Refusal
of such applications in the future will be facilitated by the new Food and Drugs Act, which
comes into force on the 1st October, 1939, the provisions of the Section dealing with registration
applying also in relation to dairymen who are not retail purveyors of milk as they
apply in relation to dairymen who are such purveyors.