London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Stepney 1938

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]

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The following is a summary of the inspections, etc., by the four special Inspectors engaged in the supervision and inspection of food:—

H. Abson.A. C. Brown.T. W. Dee.S. Vogler.Totals.
Bishopsgate Goods Station*13†195_208
Butcher and Bacon shops3951396
Butcher and Bacon stalls310_310
Butter and Margarine premises253257
Complaints15682941153
Cowsheds405898
Fish shops_371552
Greengrocers and Fruiterers-165165
Ice Cream premises250279529
London Fruit Exchange376376
Markets (Daily)334390214591,404
Markets (Week-end)333312†
Milkshops5606121,172
Prepared Food premises225147142514
Spitalfields Market378378
Wharves4197571,176
Wholesale Grocers.67155222
Miscellaneous visits106397804331,016
Revisits1624973886621,709
Samples taken—-Food and Drugs97967881,593
„ „ Other11744783215
No. of Summonses taken out42711850

Milk Supply.
Dairy premises 181 1,172 96
Purveyors (Bottled) Milk 428 122
Itinerant Vendors 75 — 6
Cowsheds 17 98 18
7 Samples of milk were submitted to the Bacteriologist for the detection
of tuberculosis (guinea pig inoculation). In 1 case, the two animals inoculated
both died of an extraneous infection, therefore no report of tuberculosis was
available. 1 sample gave a positive result to tuberculosis. The Ministry of
Agriculture and Fisheries were informed and their Veterinary Surgeon visited
the cowshed, carried out an inspection of the herd and took group samples of
milk from 80 cows. One sample from 14 cows gave a positive result biologically
on first investigation. On re-examination it was found that two cows from
this group had been slaughtered since the first visit, and a sample of milk
from the remaining 12 cows gave a negative result on biological examination.
The Divisional Inspector of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, in his
report, states, " It would therefore appear reasonable to assume that one of
these two cows was responsible for the contamination."
95 samples of milk were taken in course of delivery to various schools in
the Borough. 49 of the samples were submitted for chemical analysis and
46 for bacteriological examination. Of these, 4 samples (C.257, C.435, B.452
and B.668) examined bacteriologically proved to be unsatisfactory (see
following table). The remainder of the samples were satisfactory.
26 samples of milk were taken in course of delivery to various hospitals
and institutions in the Borough. 24 were submitted for chemical analysis