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
Harrow 1948
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Harrow]
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47
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD
(A) MILK SUPPLY.
Production.
The number of farms in the district remains as for the year 1947 at
nine.
Of these, four are producing T.T. milk, one accredited and remainder
ungraded milk.
From only four of the farms is the milk produced sold locally. From
the others, which include three of those producing a designated milk,
it is sold wholesale.
The following is a summary of the premises licensed under the Milk (Special Designations) Orders:—
| (i) No. of premises licensed to pasteurise milk | 2 |
| (ii) No of premises licensed to bottle T.T. milk | 2 |
| (iii) No. of premises from which pasteurised milk may be sold Of these, 30 are controlled by the United Dairies, Ltd., or Express Dairy Company. | |
| (iv) No. of premises outside the Harrow district from which pasteurised milk may be retailed in Harrow | 9 |
| (v) No. of premises from which T.T. milk may be retailed Of these, 10 are controlled by the United Dairies (London) Ltd., or the Express Dairy Company. | 22 |
| (vi) No. of premises outside the Harrow district from which T.T. milk may be retailed in Harrow | 10 |
In addition, there are three establishments from which raw milk is
retailed; and three from which milk is sold in sealed containers.
Inspection and Supervision.
During the year, 167 visits were made to cowsheds and dairies and
where necessary those responsible were requested to execute work of
repair or improvement.
At one farm a modern type of milking parlour was provided. The
layout allows cows to enter the parlour only for the purpose of being
milked; whilst this is in progress, a regulated quantity of food is provided
to each animal, supplied from a store in a room above, the food passing
to the feeding pan and down an enclosed duct. The milking is by means
of a mechanised milker, and the yield of each cow is automatically
recorded. The milk is conveyed by pipe lines from a glass reservoir in
the parlour to the dairy without being handled or exposed to the air.
A similar plant is to be installed at another farm in the district.
Of only one of the fifty-one samples or milk taken during the year
was an adverse report received. In this case a follow-up sample and
those subsequently taken showed the cause of the trouble had been
removed. In addition to samples taken locally, samples were taken
every month from producers in the district by the Middlesex War Agricultural
Executive Committee; the results indicate the high standard
of previous years is being maintained.