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
Marylebone 1910
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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The following are the particulars with regard to the case:—
| Premises. | Offence. | Result. |
|---|---|---|
| 41, North Street | Selling milk without being registered | Summons adjourned sine die. Defendant granted leave to summons Council to show cause why he should not be reinstated upon the register. Application summons dismissed. |
During the year an important question in connection with the registration of
peripatetic milk vendors was decided on an appeal made by the Council against
a decision given by one of the magistrates (Mr. Denman) at Great Marlborough
Street Police Court. Mr. Denman's decision was to the effect that a vendor
summonsed for purveying milk within the borough without being registered by
the Council was not guilty of an offence against the Dairies Cowsheds and
Milkshops Order, since he was already registered in another district. The Lord
Chief Justice (Lord Alverstone) decided that there was no reason to interfere
with the judgment of the magistrate and the other learned judges, Channell and
Lord Coleridge concurring, the appeal was dismissed.
Examination of Milk. The number of samples of milk taken for analysis
was 523, greater by over 100 than the total for 1909. In addition a considerable
number were taken with special precautions and submitted to bacteriological
examination with results stated on page 58.
Of the samples analysed by the public analyst fifty (9.5 per cent.), more
than double the number for 1909 were found to be adulterated. As usual the
vendors, whose milk proved to be genuine, were notified that no further action
would be taken, while those whose sample was found to be adulterated were
prosecuted if the adulteration was not too trivial or other circumstances did not
suggest that a written caution would meet the case.
The prosecutions taken numbered forty, the convictions thirty-five. Fines
and costs to the amount of £94 9s. were recovered, the amount for 1909 being
£30 2s. 6d.
The system of taking a number of samples in the evening and on Saturday
night, and Sunday morning was continued, and a considerable number was also
taken at the railway stations, Marylebone and Baker Street. Of the latter seven
were found to be adulterated and proceedings were instituted against the
consignors in six cases. In one case proceedings were not taken, the
adulteration being so trivial, and the farmer received a caution.