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
Woolwich 1959
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Woolwich]
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MILK SUPPLY
Within the Borough there were at the end of the year
123 registered distributors of milk and one dairy. The
Council also approved registration of a further 27
distributors of milk who sell milk in the Borough from
premises outside.
A total of 229 dealers' licences and 73 supplementary
licences were issued under the provisions of the Milk
(Special Designations) Regulations, 1949, which authorise
the use of the special designations"Sterilised" "Pasteurised"
and "Tuberculin Tested".
The percentage of fat content of samples of milk submitted to the Public Analyst for chemical analysis was as follows
| Fat Content | Number of Samples |
|---|---|
| 4.5 per cent, and over | 0 |
| 4 per cent, and under 4.5 per cent. | 7 |
| 3.5 per cent, and under 4 per cent. | 74 |
| 3 per cent, and under 3.5 per cent. | 76 |
| Below 3 per cent. | 1 |
| Total: | 158 |
In 1959, 206 samples of "Pasteurised" or "Tuberculin
Tested" milk were subjected to the Methylene Blue test at
the Park Hospital, Hither Green to assess the keeping
quality of the milk, and 193 of the samples were reported
to be satisfactory. The remaining 13 samples -could not
be tested as the shade temperature exceeded 65°F.
To determine the adequacy of pasteurisation, 212
samples of "Pasteurised" or "Tuberculin Tested" milk were
submitted for the Phosphatase test and were all satisfactory.
Twenty-four samples of "Sterilised" or "Tuberculin
Tested Sterilised" milk were subjected to the Turbidity
test and in each case satisfactory reports were received.
The tests referred to above are those prescribed in the
Milk (Special Desginations) Regulations, 1949•
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