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
Malden and Coombe 1950
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Malden & Coombe]
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21
Dealers
Tuberculin tested 7
Pasteurised 7
Pasteuriser's 1
Sterilised 7
Supplementary.
Tuberculin tested 8
Pasteurised 8
Sterilised 10
I am often asked what is the difference between a dealers
and a supplementary licence. It is this. If a dairyman has
premises in the local government area where he retails milk,
he is issued with a dealers licence. Should he retail milk in
another area he must obtain a supplementary licence from the
Council for that area.
DETAILS OF MILK TESTING.
' Pasteurised '
| Passed | Failed | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphatase test (To determine whether or not the milk has been adewuately heat treated) | 199 | 3 | 202 |
| Methylene blue test (To determine whether or not the milk is of good keeping quality) | 198 | 4 | |
| ' Sterilised' | |||
| Turbidity test (To determine whether or not the milk has been adequately sterilised) | 13 | Nil. | 13 |
The greater importance must be attached to the Phosphatase
test as correct heat treatment or pasteurisation reasonably ensures
that all pathological organisms have been eliminated. The
fact that there were only three failures out of two hundred and
two samples examined is satisfactory. All three failures occurred
at about the same time from one dairy and were due to a small
defect in the recorder which was quickly rectified.
Four samples only failed to pass the methylene blue test.
These occurred during the hot weather, when it is recognised
that milk kept at an atmospheric shade temperature of above
65°F., even if efficiently pasteurised, will not remain sweet for
any lengthly period.