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(c) Bacteriological Examination of Milks
During the year 1947, 73 samples of milk were submitted
for examination and were sent to The Clinical Research Association
Laboratories and/or The Public Health Laboratories, Epsom.
The milks are usually examined for the present of B.Coli;
the Plate Count (i.e. the number of bacilli); and the Methylene
Blue Reductase test, according to the type of milk.
The results were very satisfactory, only one sample showed
a high plate count, and two were reported as containing B.Coli.
All the samples submitted to the Methylene Blue test proved
satisfactory.
(d) Biological examinations for the presence of Tuberculosis.
Two samples of milk were submitted during the year, and
in neither sample was the presence of tubercle bacilli confirmed,
(e) Pasteurised Milk.
Milk can be sold as 'pasteurised' only if it has been' heattreated
according to the conditions attached to the Licence,
especially in relation to temperature and time period The test
which is used to ascertain whether the milk has been adequately
heat-treated is that known as the 'Phosphatase' teste
Forty-nine samples were submitted for examination and all
of them proved satisfactory
(f) ICE CREAM.
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATIONS.
The Ice-Cream (Heat Treatment) Regulations 1947, made by the
Minister of Health, came into force, with certain exceptions, on the
1st May These Regulations were brought about, in part at least, by
pressure of public opinion, and whilst the powers vested in local
authorities by the Regulations are not all that public health officers
hoped for, they represent - as the Minister stated in the accompanying
Circular - as much as it was practicable to enforce at the time
The Regulations lay down no bacteriological standard for icecream,
but the application of a modified Methylene Blue test, such
as is used in connection with samples of milk, was suggested as
a guide. Subject to the results obtained from this colour test,
the ice-cream should fall within one of four suggested Grades, and
if samples from a particular source consistently fail to fall within
Grades I or II, the Minister states that it would be reasonable to
regard this fact as an indication that all was not well with the
Process of manufacture.
Fifty-eight samples were examined during 1947 with the
following results:-
GRADES.
I II III IV
13 17 18 10 Total 58