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
City of London 1931
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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| Date. | Sample. | Analyst's Report. | Action taken. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1931. | ||||
| June 24 | Tallow (2) | "With regard to the two samples of tallow, marked "T.B. & S." and "H.B.M.C." respectively, ex ss. "Cornwall," received from yon on the 19th June, I have to report that I have been unable to detect the presence of Calcium salts in these. Lime is, therefore, absent. On the other hand, both samples have an alkalinity equivalent of 0.013 per cent, and 0.012 per cent, respectively of caustic soda (NaOH), and 1 presume that the tallow has been refined by treatment with caustic alkali, just sufficient having been added to neutralise the free fatty acids and leave the fat alkaline, the resulting soap then washed out. | Consignment released. | |
| " I understand that when this or a similar process is carried out carefully, and the tallow dried, it will keep sweet for a long time, if not indefinitely. | ||||
| " The quantity of alkali present is, of course, too small to cause trouble of any kind." | ||||
| „ 29 | Bacon | This sample, on examination, was found to contain: Salt, 3-92 per cent., and moisture, 37-98 per cent., the percentage of salt on the dry weight being 6-32. No reaction for nitrates. | 1 | |
| July 23 | Apricot Pulp ... | On examination, the sample was found to be entirely free from Sulphite Preservative. | " | |
| ,, 23 | Peach Pulp | " " " " | " | |
| „ 30 | Strawberry Pulp | This sample, on examination, was found to contain 1,130 parts of Sulphur Dioxide per million. | " | |
| Aug. 7 | Apple Pulp | This sample, on examination, was found to contain Sulphite Preservative equivalent to 565 parts of Sulphur Dioxide per million. In addition, it was found to be free from the presence of other preservatives and prohibited colouring matters. | " | |
| .. 7 | Tomato Extract.. | This sample, on examination, was found to be free from the presence of Copper and other prohibited colouring matter and preservatives. | 1 1 | |
| „ 11 | Tomato Pur6e ... | On examination, this sample was found to be free from the presence of prohibited colouring matters and preservatives. | " | |
| > 11 | " " | " " " " | ,, | |
| „ 19 | Biscuits | The lettering on the paper in which the biscuits were wrapped consisted of an alloy of Copper and Zinc. The Copper present was found to be equivalent to 22-12 grains per pound of wrapper, or 0-364 grains per pound of biscuits. | " | |
| Sept. 5 | Strawberry Pulp | This sample, on analysis, was found to contain Sulphite Preservatives equivalent to 870 parts of Sulphur Dioxide per million. | 11 | |
| „ 26 | Eindless Pasteurized Cheese. | This sample, on analysis, was found to contain Tin to the extent of 3-96 per grains per pound. | Consignment destroyed. | |
| „ 29 | Turtle Soup | This sample, on analysis, was found to contain a trace only of Tin, and is free from the presence of other deleterious ingredients. | Consignment released. | |
| Oct. 5 | Butter (2) | Both these samples were found to be free from preservatives. | ,, | |
| „ 14 | Dried Apricots | This sample contained sulphite preservative equivalent to 345 parts of Sulphur Dioxide per million. No other preservative was detected. | ,, | |
| „ 14 | Dried Milk (skimmed). | This sample, on analysis, gave the following results :— | ,, | |
| Moisture | 7.32 % | |||
| Fat | 0.91 % | |||
| Mineral matter | 7.64% | |||
| Nitrogen | 5.09 % | |||
| Protein (6.38n) | 32.47 % | |||
| Hydrated Lactose | 49.5 % | |||
| Unestimated | 1.96 % | |||
| In addition, the sample was found to be free from the presence of preservatives. | ||||