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Food and Drugs Act, 1938, and Food Regulations.
Mr. Harrington, the Sampling Officer under the Food and Drugs Acts, reports as follows:—
432 samples have been submitted to the Public Analyst; 31 of these were formal samples and
401 were informal samples.
Eleven samples were reported against.
The percentage of adulterated samples was 2.5.
Legal proceedings were instituted in three cases and in four other cases cautions were administered.
Thirty samples of milk were examined by the Phosphatase and Methylene Blue Tests, one of them
being examined bacteriologically also. Three other samples were examined bacteriologically, and
one in addition was especially examined for the presence of æ hæ hæmolytic streptococci. A sample of
sterilised milk was examined by the Turbidity Test.
The Methylene Blue test gives an indication of the keeping quality of the milk which, among
other things, is dependent upon cleanliness. The especial examination for the presence of hæmolytic
Streptococci was made on a sample taken from milk supplied for consumption by children at a
kindergarten school. The sample was taken at the request of the visiting nurse on account of some
throat infection occurring. The Bacteriologist reported, however, that no hæmolytic streptococci
were found in the sample. A further sample taken at the same time and from the same consignment
and submitted to the Phosphatase and Methylene Blue tests was found to be quite satisfactory on
both tests.
The Turbidity Test is peculiar to sterilised milk and the method of applying the test is set out in
Part IV of the Third Schedule of the Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk)
Regulations, 1949, which Regulations for the first time brought sterilised milk under the heading of
a specially designated milk.
Ice Cream.
During the year, 16 samples of ice cream were submitted to the Bacteriologist for examination
by the Methylene Blue test, two of them being examined bacteriologically also. Three were placed
in Grade 1, nine in Grade 2, two in Grade 3, and two in Grade 4.
In the cases of Grade 3 and Grade 4 samples, the results of our examination were communicated
to the Medical Officers of Health of the Districts in which the ice cream was manufactured. In one
case it was stated that the premises where the ice cream was manufactured were satisfactory, with
modern machinery but some congestion. The manufacturers obtained additional premises and subsequent
samples showed an improvement.
Ten new registrations of premises for the sale and storage of ice cream were granted during the
year.
Artificial Creme.
This is a product used by the confectionery trade for the filling of pastries, meringues, &c., and
the term is so used to distinguish it from "artificial cream" as defined in the Food and Drugs Act,
1938. There are two types in general use: viz., "butter creme" and "synthetic creme." These
are purely trade terms. The finished butter creme cannot be subjected to heat treatment, but the
synthetic creme can, and in view of the ever increasing consumption by the public of both these
substances, a small number of samples was taken in the City and submitted to the Bacteriologist for
examination. These samples were taken at the close of the year, and insufficient data has yet been
obtained to form definite conclusions, but from the adverse reports of the Bacteriologist it was
considered necessary to continue the sampling.
Housing.
The total number of housing applications outstanding on December 31st, 1950, was 402, comprising
1,008 persons. The number of families rehoused during the year was 35, comprising 77 persons.
This figure includes 21 families (57½ persons) transferred within property under the Corporation's
control.
Progress was made with the scheme for the erection of 45 flats to accommodate a maximum of
197 persons on a site in the Old Kent Road. Further progress was also made in regard to the
acquisition of a site in Golden Lane, partly in the City and partly in the Metropolitan Borough of
Finsbury, for the erection of some 300 separate du ellings.
Atmospheric Pollution.
In my last Annual Report a detailed description was given of the apparatus for the measurement
of atmospheric pollution installed at Golden Lane and Finsbury Circus Gardens, together with an
explanation of the purpose and meaning of the various observations made.
I am indebted to Mr. W. R. McGrath, the member of my staff in charge of the instruments for
measuring atmospheric pollution, for the following report.
The results of the observations for 1950 are given in the Tables overleaf. In Table 1 the mean
monthly rate of deposit in the deposit gauge at Golden Lane are compared with the previous year
and the year 1939. It will be found there is a significant increase in the total solids deposited.
1950 was the second complete year of the re-commencement of observations since the original
deposit gauge was destroyed by enemy action in 1940. In the absence of the figures used for a
"general average " (normally a period of five complete years) it is not possible by comparison to
indicate to what extent the deterioration may be due either to variations in rainfall and other factors
connected with the weather, or to an unusual occurrence of local or other pollution. It is known that
the amount of rainfall influences the amount of soluble matter deposited, and the rainfall during the
year was very high. The monthly average of the rain collected in the gauge in 1950 was 38 millimetres
(1.5 inches) compared with 28 millimetres (11 inches) in 1949. The increase in the undissolved
matters, a high proportion of which is deposited near its source, may be partly due to the dust from
the demolition of near-by war-damaged buildings, and an acceleration of the clearance of a large