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
Hornchurch 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hornchurch]
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| Complaint. | Action. |
|---|---|
| Foreign bodies (wood and stones) in sweets. | Sample of sweets from same consignment purchased and analysed. Satisfactory. No further action. |
| Can of plums alleged to contain paper. | Canners informed who stated substance was crust formed by fermentation. Remainder of stock withdrawn. |
| Cough medicine linctus containing flies. | Referred to Executive Council and still under consideration. |
| Sausages—tasteless and of poor quality. | Submitted to Public Analysts who found that sausages contained an unusually high proportion of meat. |
It is felt that if not because of its importance at least for the
unusual outcome the last complaint on the list relating to sausages
must be especially remarked.
Unsound Food.
During the year the following foods were voluntarily surrendered to the Sanitary Inspectors as being unfit for human consumption:—
| Tons | Cwts. | lbs. | ozs. | No. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chocolate Tea Cakes | — | — | — | — | 512 |
| Fish | — | 2 | 32 | 12 | — |
| Flour | — | 7 | 70 | — | — |
| Meat | 1 | 12 | 31 | 9 | — |
| Miscellaneous Groceries | — | 2 | 102 | 14 | — |
| Oranges | — | — | — | — | 92 |
| Sausages | — | 2 | 32 | 14 | — |
| Tinned Food | 1 | 11 | 32 | 14 | — |
| Tinned Ham | — | 1 | 61 | 15 | — |
| Tinned Meat | — | 5 | 18 | 10 | — |
| Tinned Milk | — | 4 | 34 | 6 | — |
| 4 | 9 | 71 | 8 | 604 |
This food, if suitable, is used for animal feeding purposes and the
remainder buried on the Council's refuse tips.
Food Premises.
The number of food premises in the district may be classified as
follows (where more than one trade is carried on at any premises,
then an entry is made in respect of each trade):—
Bakehouses 18
Butchers 57
Cafes 72
Confectioners (bread, cakes, etc.) 42
Confectioners (sweets, etc.) 82
Fish Shops 30