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 1964
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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| Sample | Satisfactory | Unsatisfactory | Action | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cough Lozenges(1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Animal feeding stuffs (7) | 7 | 0 | ||
| Pure food colouring (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Insecticide (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Ice (2) | 2 | 0 | ||
| Drinking water (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Paint from ships' water tanks (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Stained sacking from sack) | (1) | 1 | 0 | |
| of almonds | ||||
| Thames water and foam | (2) | 2 | 0 | Contained detergent residues. All deleterious substances would be removed from sugar during refining. |
| following complaints | ||||
| of foam blowing onto | ||||
| sugar barges. | ||||
| Other Sampling — Bacteriological | ||||
| During the year 7650 samples were sent to the Public Health Laboratory Service as follows:- | ||||
| Horsemeat (4491) | 2661 | 1830 | Appropriate consignments sterilised | |
| Beef(1060) | 998 | 62 | „ | |
| Mutton (788) | 622 | 166 | „ | |
| Veal (335) | 274 | 61 | „ | |
| Kangaroo (388) | 213 | 175 | „ | |
| Rabbits (312) | 277 | 35 | „ | |
| Pork (5) | 5 | 0 | „ | |
| Bitter leaves (4) | 0 | 4 | Destroyed | |
| Ground crayfish (1) | 0 | 1 | Informal sample — letter to local M.O.H. | |
| Fried Grasshopper (2) | 2 | 0 | ||
| Baked fishcakes (3) | 3 | 0 | ||
| Desiccated Coconut (29) | 29 | 0 | ||
| Ginger (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Papain (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Dried shrimp powder (3) | 3 | 0 | ||
| Canned Meat (13) | 10 | 3 | Released for animal feeding after sterilisation | |
| Egg (61) | 61 | 0 | ||
| Canned Octopus (3) | 3 | 0 | ||
| Hoof and Horn Meal (21) | 20 | 1 | Letter to merchant re danger of cross contamination. | |
| Meat Meal (20) | 15 | 5 | Letter to merchant re danger of cross contamination | |
| Dried Blood (5) | 5 | 0 | ||
| Chicken Meal (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Gooseliver pate (4) | 4 | 0 | ||
| Tinned Stewed steak (5) | 5 | 0 | ||
| Corned Beef (28) | 28 | 0 | ||
| Tinned Turkey (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Chopped pork (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Tinned ham (22) | 6 | 16 | Appropriate consignments destroyed | |
| Sauerkraut (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Frankfurter sausage (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Beef ravioli-in-sauce (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Milk Powder (11) | 10 | 1 | Bacteriologically contaminated — destroyed | |
| Chinese moon-cakes (2) | 2 | 0 | ||
| Tinned ox tongue (1) | 1 | 0 | ||
| Prawns (6) | 6 | 0 | ||
| Shrimps (3) | 3 | 0 | ||
| Chinese foodstuffs (16) | 8 | 8 | Appropriate consignments destroyed | |
IMPORTED MENT
The year 1964 has been a period of considerable expansion, during which it has been possible
to widen the range and increase the quantity of meats examined. In consequence of this, the
number of bacteriological samples drawn and sent to the Public Health Laboratory has risen
sharply as the trade in boneless meats and pets meat continues to flourish. Tables are appended
giving details of the work done during this period. A limiting factor to the range of expansion is
the size of the examination room at the cold store and unless more accommodation is provided by
adding another similar room, the present staff of inspectors will continue to be hampered in their
work by congestion.
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