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
Heston and Isleworth 1926
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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55
he asks for the satisfactory arrangements foreshadowed in the
Regulations, he is faced by the reply that neighbouring Authorities
are doing little or nothing as compared with the demands which he
thinks necessary. At the same time that the rigid inspection of
meat, and its protection from contamination is demanded, we have
side by side in the same street exposed to all the desiccated horse
dung, dried sputum, and other things from the street, such things
as dates, figs, and fresh fruit which are consumed raw, and sweets
sold from barrows and pedlar's trays, which are unprotected and
are all liable to be contaminated.
In view of the fact that practically every article of meat is only
surface contaminated, and is submitted to adequate heating to ensure
the sterilisation of the outside of the joint, it is surely straining
at the gnat and swallowing the camel when we allow such things
as fruits, sweets, etc., above-mentioned, to be exhibited without any
form of protection.
I am indebted to Dr. J. Tate, County Medical Officer, for the following report prepared by the Chief Officer of the Public Control Department, as to the samples purchased in this area during 1926.
| Article. | Taken. | Adulterated. |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 223 | 5 |
| Apples | 2 | 2 |
| Cream | 6 | — |
| Butter | 10 | — |
| Beer | 2 | — |
| Condensed Machine-skimmed Milk | 2 | 2 |
| Fish Paste | 1 | — |
| Oatmeal | 1 | — |
| Fruit, tinned | 2 | — |
| Gin | 5 | 1 |
| Vinegar | 3 | — |
| Mustard | 2 | — |
| Whisky | 3 | — |
| 262 | 10 |