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 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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found to be slightly below the standard, a special report was made to the Public
Health Committee, and in only one instance was it found necessary to send a letter
of caution to the vendor.
Proceedings.—In the case of samples definitely adulterated proceedings were
instituted.
In 1920 action was taken in 8 cases. In no case was the warranty defence
pleaded. In respect of the 8 cases fines and costs to the amount of £90 0s. Od. were
recovered. In 1919, when there were 12 cases, the amount was £74 2s. 6d. A
considerable number of samples were taken on Saturday nights and Sunday
mornings, and in all 238 were obtained on delivery at Marylebone Station of the
Great Central Railway. Of the 238, four proved to be adulterated, and warranted
the institution of proceedings. In one case ttie defendant, a farmer, stated that he
sometimes poured milk from one churn to another to fill up, and as a churn sampled
at the same time had an excess of milk fat, the magistrate gave him the benefit of
the doubt and inflicted no fine. In the other three cases the fines and costs amounted
to £59 lis. 6d.
The quarterly returns as to milk samples are tabulated below:—
| Quarter of the Year. | No. of Samples Taken | No. of Samples Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | No. of Prosecutions Instituted. | Fines and Costs. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d. | |||||
| 1st | 122 | 4 | 3.3 | 2 | 68 | 8 | 0 |
| 2nd | 178 | 7 | 3.9 | 4 | 16 | 9 | 0 |
| 3rd | 77 | 1 | 1.3 | — | - | ||
| 4th | 54 | 2 | 3.7 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Total for year | 431 | 14 | 3.2 | 8 | 90 | 0 | 0 |
Bacteriological Examination of Milk.—With a view to testing the purity of
milk from the bacteriological point of view, 8 samples were taken and submitted to
Dr. Foulerton, the Council's Bacteriologist, for examination.
In respect of 5, the report was to the effect that the milk was "good." The
remaining 3 being returned as being 2 poor and 1 not quite free from foreign dirt.
In no instance was any sign of tuberculosis found.
Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order.—Frequent inspections of cowsheds
and milk premises were made with the object of discovering whether or not the
requirements of the regulations as to cleanliness, etc., under these orders, were being
complied with. In no case were proceedings necessary, verbal warnings generally
proving sufficient.
Milk and Cream Regulations.—The following is a copy of the return required
by the Ministry of Health with regard to proceedings under the Public Health (Milk
and Cream) Regulations. These regulations absolutely forbid the addition of
preservatives to milk, and so far as can be gathered from the reports of the Public
Analyst, the prohibition is loyally obeyed.