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Administration of the Shops Acts
There was a sharp reduction in the number of inspections, the result of shortage of
staff, but it is still possible to say that every emergency occurring was dealt with immediately
that notice of it was received in the Public Health Department.
Markets
The general sanitary conditions at the livestock market, held once weekly, were kept
under supervision. There is no other market in the Borough.
Pet Animals Act, 1951
Six establishments were licensed during the year. Compliance with the schedule of
conditions of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was secured, and
no formal action was necessary.
HYGIENE OF FOOD
Food Poisoning
The total number of persons notified as cases of food poisoning by general practitioners
was 45 in 1954, and of these, only one was discovered subsequently to have faeces containing
food poisoning organisms, namely salmonella typhi-murium. No outbreaks of nonnotified
food poisoning occurred, and a sharp outbreak of Sonne dysentery in one of the
Southall Schools was clearly traced as being in no way connected with the school meals or
those handling them.
Personal Hygiene
The free washing facilities in the public conveniences, which were brought into
operation in September, 1950, continued to be available throughout 1954. During that
period, 5,500 paper towels were issued free, and also 3,472 linen towels, which are provided
at a cost of 2d. per person.
Milk
The following licences under the Milk (Special Designation) (Raw Milk) Regulations,
1949 and 1950, and Milk (Special Designation) (Pasteurised and Sterilised Milk) Regulations,
1949 and 1950, were issued :—
for the sale of Tuberculin Tested Milk 13
for the sale of Pasteurised Milk 22
for the sale of Sterilised Milk 20
Supplementary Licences 21
Total 76
Food Sampling
The bacteriological analyses of 232 food samples taken during the year were carried
out by the Public Health Laboratory Service.
One hundred and seventeen of these specimens were ice-cream samples, covering 15
makes of ice-cream, and following bacteriological analyses the ice-creams were graded as
follows:—
Grade I 98
Grade II 6
Grade III 6
Grade IV 2
Five samples were not graded as Methylene Blue tests were not carried out.
Ice-cream was manufactured locally at 3 premises at intervals during the year. Premises
and plant were inspected and checked and no infringement of the Ice-Cream (Heat Treatment,
etc.) Regulations, 1947-52, was recorded.
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