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
Merton and Morden 1938
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Merton & Morden]
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The prescribed standard under the Order is that
"Pasteurised" Milk must not contain more than 100,000
bacteria per millilitre.
The 32 pasteurised milk samples contained bacteria per
millilitre as follows:—
Under 1,000 3
1,000- 5,000 11
5,000- 10,000 10
10,000- 20,000 5
20,000- 30,000 3
30,000- 50,000 0
50,000-100,000 0
Over 100,000 0
32
ORDINARY MILK—24 SAMPLES.
| Examination. | Over 100.000 per mil. | Under 100,000 per mil. | Present. | Absent. | Satisfactory. | Unsatisfactory. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total bacteria | 3 | 21 | – | – | – | – |
| Bacillus Coli | – | – | 9 | 15 | – | – |
| Methylene blue test | – | – | – | – | 12 | 2 |
Two samples of milk were examined biologically for the
presence of the tubercle bacillus with negative results.
The 24 ordinary milk samples contained bacteria per
millilitre as follows:—
Under 5,000 3
5,000- 10,000 5
10,000- 20,000 4
20,000- 30,000 4
30,000- 50,000 2
50,000-100,000 3
Over 100,000 3
24
There is no prescribed standard for total bacteria in
ordinary raw milk and it is satisfactory to note that of the
24 samples examined, 21 contained total bacteria of under
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