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
Willesden 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Willesden]
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Table No. 11. Shewing the Slaughter-houses in Willesden.
| 1914. | January, 1920. | December, 1920. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Licensed | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 9 | 9 | 9 |
(c) Other Foods.—The following items should receive special attention:—Unsound food and
food inspection; sanitary condition of bakehouses and premises where foods are manufactured, prepared,
stored, or exposed for sale, indicating any important respects in which existing powers have been found
inadequate for dealing with insanitary conditions in such places.
The year 1920, like 1919, has been again remarkable on account of the large quantities of
damaged and unsound foodstuffs voluntarily surrendered by shop-keepers, particulars of which are
given in this report under the heading, "Sanitary Inspection of District."
(d) A reference should be made to any cases of food poisoning in the district.
No case of food poisoning occurred in Willesden in 1920.
(e) Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.— A report on the work done by the local authority tinder these
Acts should be included, with observations on special questions which have received or require attention.
The administration of these Acts is in the hands of the Middlesex County Council, and the
following information relating to the work done in Willesden, has been kindly supplied me by Mr.
Robinson, Chief Officer, Public Control Department.
Table No. 12.
Samples taken during the year ended 31st December, 1920:—
| Article. | Formal. | Informal. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taken. | Adulterated. | Taken. | Adulterated. | |
| Milk | 236 | 24 | 260 | 22 |
| Separated Milk | 12 | — | 1 | — |
| Butter | — | — | 28 | — |
| Margarine | — | — | 1 | — |
| Preserved Cream | 3 | — | 1 | — |
| Self-raising Flour | — | — | 4 | 1 |
| Ale | — | — | 1 | — |
| Carbonate of Soda | _ | — | 1 | — |
| Lime Juice | — | — | 1 | — |
| Baking Powder | — | — | 2 | — |
| Cream of Tartar | — | — | 2 | — |
| Egg Powder | — | — | 1 | — |
| Custard Powder | — | — | 8 | — |
| Coffee | — | — | 2 | — |
| Lard | — | — | 1 | — |
| Dripping | — | — | 3 | — |
| Cream | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Egg Substitute Powder | — | — | 6 | — |
| Fish Paste | 1 | — | 3 | — |
| Lard Compound | — | — | 1 | — |
| Pepper | — | — | 3 | — |
| Sugar | — | — | 1 | — |
| Whiskey | — | — | 1 | — |
| Total | 254 | 25 | 334 | 24 |
One milk-seller was prosecuted for refusing to sell milk to an Inspector, and was fined £10
and Five guineas costs. Another milk-seller was prosecuted for obstructing an Inspector, and was
fined £10 and 10s. costs.
Public Health Milk and Cream Regulations, 1912-1917.—Milk: No preservative was found
in any of the samples of milk analysed. Cream: In one case, preserved cream was sold without
being so labelled, and the vendor was cautioned.