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 1956
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Southall]
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34
During 1956, the Director of the Public Health Laboratory serving this area decided to
base his sampling results on a bacteriological count in place of the Methylene Blue Test
used generally as a standard throughout the rest of the country, and while this may render
our statistical results less satisfactory in appearance it should result in a raised standard of
purity because of the more exact measurement of contamination.
Satisfactory communication has been maintained during the year with the County Public Control Department, and the report on the work carried out in Southall by the staff of that Department is as follows:—
| Article | Total Samples Procured | Unsatisfactory |
|---|---|---|
| Milk, new | 23 | 1 |
| Milk, various | 63 | 2 |
| Bread | 1 | 1 |
| Butter | 9 | - |
| Cakes | 4 | - |
| Cooked Meats | 5 | - |
| Cream | 11 | - |
| Drugs | 9 | - |
| Fish and fish products | 35 | 1 |
| Fruit, fresh | 2 | - |
| Fruit, canned | 4 | - |
| Fruit Juice | 3 | - |
| Ice Cream | 4 | - |
| Liver | 6 | - |
| Margarine | 3 | - |
| Meat and meat products | 11 | - |
| Miscellaneous | 8 | - |
| Non-brewed condiment | 3 | - |
| Peas, canned | 4 | - |
| Pickles and sauces | 4 | - |
| Preserves | 6 | - |
| Soups | 2 | - |
| Suet | 2 | - |
| Sweets | 4 | - |
| Vinegar | 7 | 3 |
| Wines and Spirits | 10 | — |
| Totals | 243 | 8 |
Milk. A sample of new milk was deficient in fat, but follow-up samples proved to be
genuine and no further action was taken. Two bottles of milk, from different sources,
contained pieces of glass. Proceedings were instituted and in one case the processors were
fined £5 os. od. and ordered to pay £3 3s. od. costs—in the other, the case was dismissed.
Bread. A loaf of bread contained dirt and mineral oil. The bakers were issued with an
official caution.
Fish and fish products. Canned salmon, described on the label as " Middle Cut
Salmon," was found to contain portions of tail. An official caution was issued.
Vinegar. Three samples sold as "vinegar" were found to be non-brewed condiment.
In one case the follow-up sample was found to be genuine and no further action was taken.
In the remaining two cases, procured from the same retailer, an official caution was issued.