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
Coulsdon and Purley 1935
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Coulsdon]
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In the second case investigation failed to reveal the animal responsible
for the adverse report. In that case, too, certain annals
had been sent to market. This occurred at a farm outside the District
but within the County.
The following is a summary of the results of the 53 samples examined bacteriologically:—
TOTAL, COUNT.
| Under 30,000 | 33 |
| 30,000—200,000 | 17 |
| 200,000—400,000 | 3 |
| COLIFORM BACILLUS. | |
| Absent in 1 c.c. | 3 |
| Present in 1 c.c. | 21 |
| ,, .1 c.c. | 14 |
| ,, .01 c.c. | 9 |
| ,, .001 c.c. | 4 |
| .0001 c.c. | 2 |
The results obtained may be compared with the standard required of " Grade A " milk, which has not to contain more than 200,000 organisms per c.c., nor any coliform bacillus in .01 c.c.
| Total Count and B. Coli. | Total Count only. | |
|---|---|---|
| Number of samples of bacterial standard of "Certified" Milk | 23 | 33 |
| Number of samples of bacterial standard of " Grade A " milk | 29 | 50 |
It will be seen that 54.7 per cent. of the samples conformed to
"Grade A" standard. This percentage does, however, vary so much
with the proportion taken from doubtful sources, or which have been
previously subject to commercial pasteurisation, the former tending
to reduce and the latter to increase the proportion of the " Grade A "
standard, that it is difficult to compare the condition of the milk supply
from year to year on these figures.
In cases where the reports showed that the milk was bacteriologically
unsatisfactory, the attention of the dealer or producer was called to
the matter, and subsequent samples showed improvement.
No samples of Graded Milk were taken under the special instructions
of the Ministry of Health, but the 53 samples examined bacteriologically
included one sample of "Pasteurised" and one of "Grade A (T.T.)",
both of which complied with the prescribed standard.
During the year the Council granted the following number of licences under the Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923:—
| Ordinary. | Supplementary | |
|---|---|---|
| Grade A (T.T.) | 9 | 7 |
| Grade A | 2 | 2 |
| Certified | 7 | 8 |
| Grade A Pasteurised | 1 | 1 |
| Pasteurised | 11 | 5 |