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
Erith 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Erith]
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39
Particular attention was paid to the cleanliness of the
food utensils, the condition of the washing-up water and the
possibility of the spread of disease via these media.
Broadly the method adopted was to take two sets of
samples of washing-up water, swabs of utensils, crockery, etc.
at various stages. The first set under conditions existing prior
to the experiment and the second parallel set after a study
of washing-up methods and likely sources of contamination
(e.g. storage and handling of utensils before use) and when
an approved detergent and hypochlorite solution had been
used.
The following table shows some of the typical results obtained:—
| Sample | Total count at 37°C before experiment. | Total count at 37°C after experiment. |
|---|---|---|
| Cutlery Water | 128,000 | 70 |
| Plate Water | 9,600,000 | 180 |
| Pot Water | 23,500,000 | 750 |
| Cup, washed and cloth dried Gram positive cocci Strep, lactis faecalis. | No organisms. | |
| Plate, washed and cloth dried. Gram, positive bacilli Staph, albus. Non-haemolytic strep. | Few colonies of Staph, albus. | |
| Fork, washed and cloth dried. Mod. growth of Staph, albus and Non-haemolytic strep. | No organisms. | |
Following the experiments, the Medical Officer of
Health organised a lecture on Food Hygiene which was given
to local Medical Officers and Sanitary Inspectors, and also
addressed the 4 Erith Chamber of Commerce' on the important
information obtained. At this meeting it was decided to
form a Food Traders Guild and a committee was duly elected.
F (6), Stalls in Erith Market
During the year, this site occupied by a cafe and a number
of mobile stalls was purchased by the Union Cinemas Ltd. in
consequence of which the several weekly tenancies were
terminated, and the Local Authority was approached by
the various occupiers for alternative accommodation.