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
Southall 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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A recommendation was made by the Health Committee during the year that the Borough
Council should consider the provision of free washing facilities in public conveniences in
Southall. This provision, although for all ratepayers of the Borough, was originally
suggested to enable health propaganda, with regard to personal cleanliness amongst handlers
of food, to be emphasised by their being able to make ready use of these washing facilities
without having to pay for them and without having to wait for the issue of special soap and
towels by an attendant. The Borough Council agreed to initiate these services for an
experimental period, and it was commenced on the 18th September, 1950. Prior to its
commencing, every firm in Southall employing roundsmen or delivery boys was notified
of the service and the information was also conveyed to itinerant hawkers of meat, fish, fruit,
and vegetables, ice-cream, etc.
Milk
Licences.
The following licences under the Milk (Special Designations) (Raw Milk) Regulations, 1949, and Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk) Regulations, 1949, were issued:—
| for the sale of Tuberculin Tested (Pasteurised) Milk | 1 |
| for the sale of Tuberculin Tested Milk | 17 |
| for the sale of Pasteurised Milk | 19 |
| for the sale of Sterilised Milk | 16 |
| Supplementary Licences | 26 |
| Total | 79 |
Sampling.
Fourteen samples of milk were sent during the year for bacterial count, all of which were
reported as satisfactory. The examinations are carried out by the Public Health Laboratory
Service.
Food Sampling
The bacteriological analyses of 280 food samples taken during the year were carried out
by the Public Health Laboratory Service. The County Council is the Food and Drugs
Authority.
Seventy-four of these specimens were ice-cream samples, covering 35 makes of ice-cream,
and following bacteriological analyses the ice-creams were graded as follows:—
I 22
II 32
III 11 74
IV 9
Food Inspections
Inspections are made of the carcases of slaughtered animals at St. Bernard's Hospital,
(L.C.C.) slaughterhouse and pig clubs, and of premises where meat and other foods are sold
or prepared for sale. There is no registered slaughterhouse or public abattoir in the district,
and most of the meat supplied comes from the Ministry of Food Distribution Centre.
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