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
Beckenham 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Beckenham]
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43
Food and Drugs Sampling.
During 1947, 133 samples were purchased and submitted to the Public Analyst. Details are appended:—
| Formal Samples | Informal Samples | |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 79 | - |
| Malt Vinegar | 2 | 2 |
| Zinc Ointment | — | - |
| Liquorice Powder | - | 1 |
| Glycerine | - | 1 |
| Fig Syrup | - | 1 |
| Cough Mixture | — | - |
| Shredded Carrot Soup | - | 1 |
| Banana Flavouring | - | 1 |
| Jelly-making Gelatine | - | 1 |
| Fish Paste | — | 7 |
| Ground Ginger | - | 1 |
| Aspirin | - | 1 |
| Camphorated Oil | - | - |
| Vita—Gravy | - | 1 |
| Malted Milk Tablets | - | - |
| Lemonade Powder | - | 1 |
| Sphagetti in Sauce | - | 1 |
| Macedoine | - | 1 |
| Golden Raising Powder | - | 1 |
| Pickled Gherkins | - | 1 |
| Custard Powder | - | 1 |
| Castor Oil | - | 1 |
| Ice Cream | - | 3 |
| Sausage Meat | 9 | - |
| Liver Sausage | 1 | - |
| Whalemeat Savouries | 1 | - |
| Savoury Sausage | 1 | - |
| Ham and Beef Press | 1 | — |
| Cayenne Pepper | - | 1 |
| Spice | - | 1 |
| Black Pepper | - | 1 |
| Ginger Wine | - | 1 |
| 94 | 39 |
One sample was found to be adulterated. This certification
related to an informal sample of Heat Treated Milk, submitted for
Heat Treatment Tests and found on chemical analysis to contain
8.35 per cent. solids—not—fat, instead of the prescribed 8.5 per cent.
3.7 per cent extraneous water was, therefore, presumed. It is not
possible to consider legal proceedings on informal samples. A formal
sample from the same dairyman, taken on the same day, was returned
as genuine.
There are, in the Borough, two milk pasteurising plants. Samples
are submitted monthly for Heat Treatment and keeping quality tests,
and failure to comply with the prescribed tests was occasional and in
no case consistent. Such samples are actually taken on the request