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facilities comparable to the very best in London, serviced by kitchens which are probably unsurpassed
in the excellence of their arrangements.
During the year, as is customary, it has been our duty to accompany distinguished visitors
from all parts of the world on an inspection of selected catering establishments in the City and
it is to those restaurants and staff canteens referred to above where facilities and arrangements
are beyond reproach that we usually take our guests.
A little reflection will indicate that food hygiene does not consist of any magical formula
but it is a constant daily struggle by all those who are engaged in the preparation and service
of food. It is equally obvious that our work in endeavouring to supervise and improve conditions
in catering premises throughout the City, is likewise a continuous struggle. No matter how
enthusiastically or energetically this absorbing and vital aspect of the public health work is attacked,
one can never be satisfied that the job has been done well enough.
In conclusion we would say that whilst we can never afford to be satisfied with the results
of our endeavours, in fairness to the City Caterers, it can be said that so far as the structural
conditions of catering premises are concerned there has been a marked improvement upon the
conditions which existed some years ago. There has also been a parallel improvement in the
provision of essential amenities for the staff, and the conditions in which they work.
EGYPTIAN POTATOES
In August, a detention notice was served on the owners of 28,655 half bags of Egyptian
potatoes which had been delivered to a City wharf per s.s. "CHRISTIANE SCHULTE". Many
of these potatoes were rotten, sprouting and decomposed and it was arranged for the whole consignment
to be sorted and a number of bags which were considered to be unsound were removed
by the Corporation's Cleansing Department. Twelve days after the commencement of the sorting
operation the owners requested that it be stopped as they were negotiating for the balance to be
removed by another firm for pig feeding and composting. This, however, did not materialise.
In view of the fact that these potatoes were causing a public health nuisance pressure was
brought to bear on the owners to expedite arrangements for the disposal of the unsound portion.
A few days later 250 tons of these potatoes were removed by barge to another area and destroyed
under the supervision of the local Authority, the balance of 101 tons being delivered to the
Corporation's Cleansing Department by the owners for destruction.
As a consequence of these operations a complaint of fly nuisance arose at the Corporation's
Cleansing Department. Arrangements were made for the staff of the disinfecting stations to deal with
this matter and the nuisance was abated.
These operations entailed numerous visits and telephone calls by Mr. Hudson, the Public
Health Inspector and the whole matter was expedited by the co-operation of the staff of the wharf
where the potatoes were landed.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION
There are established in the City of London four stations for the measurment of atmospheric
pollution by the volumetric method; one at the City Mortuary which is attended by the
Superintendent of the Mortuary and Disinfecting Station and three at Police Stations which are
operated with the kind assistance of the City Police. Daily readings are taken at these stations
and the information is collated at the central office in Guildhall where the smoke stains are
'read' on a photo-electric reflectometer and forms are completed and returns made to the Department
of Scientific and Industrial Research who collate similar information from all over the
country.
In the winter months when 'smog' is likely to occur, more frequent readings are required to
get an accurate reading as to the extent of atmospheric pollution. The resident Superintendent
of the City Mortuary and Disinfecting Station has frequently carried out four-hourly readings
during such periods in the past and if the 'smog' is prolonged this duty could be quite onerous.
With this in mind a semi-automatic sequential smoke and S02 sampling instrument was purchased.
This machine can be set to take readings at either three or twenty-four hour intervals. During the
winter fog warnings were received on three occasions and the machine was set to operate three
hourly. On all these occasions the fog dispersed rapidly.
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