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 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Malden & Coombe]
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19.
Dealers.
Tuberculin tested 9
Pasteurised 9
Sterilised 14
Supplementary.
Tuberculin tested 10
Pasteurised 10
Sterilised 11
The difference between a dealer's and a supplementary licence is
that, if a dairyman has premises in a local government area where he
retails milk he is issued with a dealer's licence. Should he retail
milk in another area he must obtain a supplementary licence from the
Council of that area.
DETAILS OP MILK TESTING.
| Class of Milk | Number of Samples Tested | Appropriate Tests | Number of Samples | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passed | Failed | |||
| Pasteurised | 75 | Phosphatase | 75 | - |
| Methylene blue | 75 | - | ||
| Sterilised | 5 | Turbidity | 5 | - |
| Tuberculin tested (Pasteurised) | 38 | Phosphatase | 42 | - |
| Methylene blue | 42 | - | ||
| Tuberculin tested (Farm Bottled) | 6 | Methylene blue | 5 | 1 |
| Biological | 4 | - | ||
The purpose of the phosphatase and methylene blue tests is to
determine respectively whether or not the milk has been adequately heat
treated and whether it is of good keeping quality.
The turbidity test for sterilised milk is to determine whether
or not the milk has been adequately sterilised.
The greater importance must be attached to the phosphatase test
as correct heat treatment or pasteurisation reasonably ensures that all
pathogenic organisms have been eliminated.
Farm bottled (tuberculin tested) milk is not pasteurised and is
retailed without treatment.