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
Shoreditch 1932
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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67
Milk (Special Designations) Order, 1923.
The following table shows the results of bacteriological analysis of samples of milk sold under this Order :—
| No. of Sample | Designation of Milk | No. of bacteria per c. cm. | Presence of coliform bacillus | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | Pasteurised | 123,600 | Present in 1/10 c.c. | Not satisfactory |
| 43 | Pasteurised | 21,000 | Absent. | Satisfactory |
| 45* | Grade "A" (T.T.) | 73,400 | Absent. | " |
| 46 | Certified | 8,020 | Present in 1/10 c.c. | Not satisfactory |
| 47* | Grade "A" (T.T.) | 2,700 | Absent. | Satisfactory |
| 48 | Certified | 1,870 | Absent. | ,, |
| 49* | Grade "A" (T.T.) | 15,800 | Absent. | ,, |
| 50 | Pasteurised | 17,100 | Present in 1/10 c.c. | ,, |
| 51 | Pasteurised | 37,400 | Present in 1/10 c.c. | ,, |
| 78 | Pasteurised | 7,180 | Absent. | ,, |
| 79 | Pasteurised | 17,750 | Absent. | ,, |
| 91 | Pasteurised | 225,100 | Present in 1/10 c.c. | Not satisfactory |
| 92 | Pasteurised | 287,400 | Present in 1/10 c.c. | ,, |
| 93 | Pasteurised | 7,320 | Absent. | Satisfactory |
| 98 | Pasteurised | 8,330 | Absent. | ,, |
* Milk sold as Grade "A" (Tuberculin tested) shall be produced and
treated under such conditions that on a sample being taken at any time before
delivery to the consumer the milk shall be found to contain:—
(а) not more than 200,000 bacteria per cubic centimetre; and
(б) no coliform bacillus in one-hundredth of a cubic centimetre.
Tuberculous Milk.
Samples of milk consigned to London are taken by the London County
Council at the railway terminii and also from supplies entering by road. The
number of samples examined in this way during 1931 was 1,970, and of these
201 or 10-2 per cent yielded tubercle bacilli. During 1930 the percentage of
samples found to be tuberculosis was 9.1. These percentages are deplorably
high.
The fact that there is but little evidence of milk borne tuberculous infection
either among the community generally or among the mothers and
children in receipt of milk allowances under the Maternity and Child Welfare
Scheme is probably due to the fact, elicited by enquiry from wholesale dealers,
that practically the whole of the milk sold in Shoreditch is treated by heat
before delivery.
There are two cowsheds in Shoreditch. Ten samples of milk from these
were examined by Dr. Teale for the Borough Council, but in no instance was
the presence of tubercle bacilli reported.