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 1930
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Heston and Isleworth]
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"B" means the calculated composition of a mixture of 5 volumes of M.W.B. water with 1 volume of canal water.
| Parts per "A" | 100,000 "B" | |
|---|---|---|
| Total solid residue | 42.58 | 42.66 |
| Oxygen absorbed | .173 | .166 |
| Nitrogen as nitrates | .446 | .453 |
| Nitrogen as nitrites | trace | .003 |
| Chlorine (combined) | 2.70 | 2.77 |
| Alkalinity | 21.75 | 22.0 |
| Total hardness (soap test) | 26.0 | 26.2 |
The two columns are so very nearly alike that they prove
that the drinking water on the 1st inst. was being polluted by
about 17 per cent. of the canal water."
The bacteriological analysis of the supply water from the Metropolitan
Water Board by an independent bacteriologist gave the
following result:—
Source : Inlet to Tank on Roof (Metropolitan Water Board water).
(Taken by W. T. Burgess, F.I.C. Witness, B. H. McCoy,
11.40 a.m., 6/3/30.)
Number of organisms per cubic centrimetre of
water growing upon nutrient gelatine at 20° C.
in three days 102
Number of organisms per cubic centimetre of water
growing upon agar at 37° C. in one day 1
Smallest quantity of water giving acid and gas
in bile-salt glucose broth 100 cc.
Smallest quantity of water giving gas in bile-salt
lactose broth Absent in 100cc.
Smallest quantity of water containing the Bacillus
Coli Absent in 100 cc.
Smallest quantity of water giving the reaction of
the B. Welchii (Bacillus Enteritidis Sporogenes)
Absent in 100 cc.