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
Stepney 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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77
Milk.
923 samples of milk were analysed, of which 36 or 39 per cent. were
adulterated.
Table F shows the number of samples of milk examined and the percentages
of adulteration during the last ten years.
Table F.
| 1920 | 1921. | 1922. | 1923. | 1924. | 1925 | 1926. | 1927. | 1928. | 1929. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of samples | 858 | 824 | 838 | 837 | 895 | 825 | 809 | 854 | 923 | 923 |
| Percentage of ad ulteration | 57 | 4.5 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 4.1 | 3.9 |
The average composition of all the samples of milk analysed for each
month of the year is shown below.
Table G.
| Month. | Number examined. | Fat per cent. | Solids-not-fat per cent. | Total Solids per cent. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 91 | 361 | 8.68 | 12.29 |
| February | 67 | 3.60 | 8.70 | 12.30 |
| March | 77 | 3.63 | 8.66 | 12.29 |
| April | 94 | 3.49 | 8.57 | 12.06 |
| May | 58 | 3.55 | 8.64 | 12.19 |
| June | 72 | 3.42 | 8.71 | 12.13 |
| July | 90 | 3.59 | 8.67 | 12.26 |
| August | 64 | 3.78 | 8.54 | 12.32 |
| September | 82 | 3.61 | 8.60 | 12.21 |
| October | 79 | 3.75 | 8.64 | 12.39 |
| November | 66 | 3.83 | 8.67 | 12.50 |
| December | 83 | 3.60 | 8.70 | 12.30 |
| — |
The yearly averages are given below:—
| Year. | Fat. | Solids-not-fat. | Total Solids. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 3.60 | 8.79 | 12.39 |
| 1922 | 3.69 | 8.71 | 12.40 |
| 1923 | 3.75 | 8.74 | 12.49 |
| 1924 | 3.68 | 8.70 | 12.38 |
| 1925 | 3.64 | 8.72 | 12.36 |
| 1926 | 3.71 | 8.71 | 12.42 |
| 1927 | 3.68 | 8.67 | 12.35 |
| 1928 | 3.67 | 8.65 | 12.32 |
| 1929 | 3.62 | 8.65 | 12.27 |
Table H shows the extent of the adulteration and the action taken in
each case.