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REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH
FOR THE CITY OF LONDON FOR THE YEAR 1949.
To the Right Honourable The Lord Mayor, Aldermen and Commoners of the Corporation of London.
55/01, Moorgate,
London, E.C. 2.
July, 1950.
My Lord Mayor and Gentlemen,
I have the honour to submit the following report on the work of my Department during the
year 1949.
Vital Statistics.
Though the population of the City during working hours is considered to approach half a
million, the resident population is very small, the Registrar-General's estimate for 1949 being only
4,670. Vital statistics are consequently of little value for purposes of comparison with those of other
areas or the whole country. The birth rate per 1,000 works out at 6.21 and the death rate at 8.57.
The infant mortality rate appears as 103.45, though the number of deaths under 1 year of age was
only 3.
The death rate for illegitimate infants appears as 333.33 per thousand because there were only
three illegitimate births and one died. Rates calculated on one year's figures are therefore of no value
at all.
There were again no maternal deaths during the year.
National Health Service Act.
Although under the above Act administrative responsibility for the personal health services has
passed to other authorities, no significant changes have been made and your Medical Officer remains
in close touch with the Executive Officers concerned.
Infectious Disease.
There was no outbreak of or any incident in relation to any infectious disease calling for special
comment during the year. Your Medical Officer receives many enquiries from business firms in the
City as to what action they should take in regard to cases or contacts of infectious disease amongst
their staffs.
Food Inspection.
The total amount of meat delivered at Smithfield Market was 295,103 tons, some 8,800 tons
more than in the previous year. The amount of diseased or unsound meat surrendered at the Market
was 218 tons, about 100 tons more than in the previous year, but about the same as in 1947.
In addition nearly 40 tons of meat were condemned in Leadenhall Market and City Shops, and
2i tons in Cold Stores.
Of the foodstuffs delivered at Riverside Wharves or at premises in the City, 1,051 tons were
condemned. This high figure is mainly due to a tidal flood in March, when the basements of several
riverside warehouses were flooded.
Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and Food Regulations.
Of 470 samples submitted to the Public Analyst, four were found to be adulterated or below the
required standard of composition, the percentage of adulterated samples being 0'85.
Milk.
I am indebted to Mr. G. E. Harrington for the following summary of the new legislation in
regard to milk :—
Food & Drugs (Milk and Dairies) Act, 1944.
Milk (Special Designations) Act, 1949.
The Milk (Special Designation) (Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949.
The Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk) Regulations, 1949.
The Milk and Dairies Regulations, 1949.
The above-mentioned legislation came into operation in whole or part on 1st October, 1949.
In brief review the effect of these Acts and Regulations is as follows :—
Food and Drugs (Milk and Dairies) Act, 1944:—Transfers control of dairy farms and dairy
farmers (producers) to the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, including the power of registration,
refusing registration or cancelling registration of such: amends Section 20 of the Food and Drugs
Act, 1938, so that the power of making Regulations under that Section shall be exercised jointly by
the Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture-and Fisheries, with added powers to provide
for the inspection of cattle on dairy farms and for regulating the storage of milk: and also amends
Section 21 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1938, to allow for the making of separate Milk (Special
Designation) Regulations, jointly by the Minister of Health and the Minister of Agriculture and
Fisheries.
Milk (Special Designations) Act, 1949 :—Empowers the Minister of Food at any time, after
consultation with representative organisations, by Statutory Instrument (the draft of which has
previously been laid before Parliament), to order to come into operation or to cease from operation in
a specified area, the obligatory use of a special designation for the purpose of all sales of milk by