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 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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139
Fifty samples of milk were taken during 1938, compared with 65 in 1937.
All the samples complied with the standard laid down by the order.
Of the 50 samples taken, two were of tuberculin-tested milk and the remainder
were of pasteurised milk. Both samples of tuberculin tested milk complied with the
methylene blue test and the b. coli test as laid down in the Order, and the 48 samples
of pasteurised milk complied with the prescribed standards.
In the samples submitted for count
Table No. 125
| Below 1,000 | Below 10,000 | Below 20,000 | Below 50,000 | Below 100,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 29 | 12 | 7 | — |
These show a definite improvement on the figures for the previous year.
Two samples of pasteurised milk were submitted to the phosphatase test.
Satisfactory results were obtained in both cases.
UNDESIGNATED MILK
During the year 43 samples of undesignated milk were submitted for bacteriological
examination. B. coli was present in 1/1,000 c.c. in five samples, present in
1/100 c.c. in six samples, present in 1/10 c.c. in four samples and absent in 1/10 c.c.
in the remaining twenty-eight samples. The total counts in these 43 samples are
shown in the following table:—
Table No. 126
| Under 1,000 | 1,000-5,000 | 5,000-25,000 | 25,000-100,000 | 100,000-200,000 | 200,000-500,000 | Over 500,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
These figures indicate the potential danger there is in using milk which is not
officially pasteurised, or graded in other ways.
CONDENSED MILK REGULATIONS
Fifteen samples of condensed milk were submitted for analysis under the above
Regulations, all of which were certified to comply with the standard laid down.