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

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Walthamstow 1947

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Walthamstow]

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Old Standard TestNew (Provisional) Test
Plate CountColiform Reaction (in 1/10 ml.)Bactcrium coli (in 1/10 ml.)Very satisfactorySatis factoryNot satis factoryMethylene Blue Test
Reduction timeGrade
30,000PresentAbsentx0 hours4
160,000Absent,,x0 „4
180,000,,,,x0 „4
120,000Present,,X0 „4
18,000,,,,x0 „4
140,000,,,,x0 „4
75,000,,,,x0 „4
80,000,,Presentx2 ,,3
80,000,,,,x1 ,,3
60,000,,,,x1 ,,3
150,000,,,,xo „4
120,000,,,,xo „4

It will be noticed that by the new test eighteen only are classified
as satisfactory (Grades 1 and 2), whereas by the old standard no
less than 30 come under this heading. As to whether the new
standard will be adopted is a matter of conjecture.
The absence of Bacterium Coli in 32 samples indicates that
cleanliness and care in manufacture and handling predominates.
The practice of local manufacturers in having samples taken
privately for bacteriological examination helps them considerably in
maintaining a high standard of cleanliness.
(c) Meat and Other Foods.
The Live Stock (Restriction of Slaughtering) Order, 1940, continued
in force and no slaughtering was carried out during the year.
The following is a list of the food condemned as unfit for
human consumption. As in previous years, whenever possible, the
food was salvaged either through the Ministry of Food Salvage
Division or the local scheme.
4478 tins Evaporated Milk
195 „ Full Cream Milk
177 „ Machine Skimmed Milk
4 „ Dried Milk
301 „ Salmon
305 „ Herring Tit-Bits
172 „ Pilchards
130 „ Silds
59 „ Herring Spread
41 „ Shellfish (Various)
16 „ Whiting
19 „ Mackerel
41 „ Sardines
22 „ Hake
2 „ Cod
3 tins Shad
8 „ Herrings
3 „ Roe
7 „ Fish Paste
451 „ Beans
349 „ Peas
182 „ Tomatoes
79 „ Beetroot
62 „ Carrots
9 „ Mixed Vegetables
8 „ Turnips
6 „ Macedoine
6 „ Potatoes
4 „ Spinach
3 „ Rhubarb