Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation.

  • Durban (South Africa). Public Health Department.
Date:
[1941]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Medical Officer's annual report [to] Durban Corporation. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    29/46 (page 27)
    The reasons for the change are that the bacterial test, from the practical standpoint, is of little value in that results are only approximate, coupled with a large margin of error, as much as 80+ and probably more in;samples of high bacterial content. The usual result of heavy bacterial infection of milk is !souring* particularly in warm..weather, which condition is not regarded as.detrimental to. health. Such milk is, however, un¬ palatable to the majority and any producer who disposes of such milk suffers economically from loss of business. Further, the bacterial test gives no indication of the presence of any pathogenic bacteria should they be present. The object of the test is only to give an indication as to the methods employed in milk production. The disc sediment test is considered more satisfactory for this purpose than the alternatives, as the presence of any visible dirt in the milk can be detected immediately thereby dis¬ closing carelessness or improper supervision in dairy management. Moreover, the results can be shown to, the producer which is of far greater value than endeavouring, to explain the presence of so many thousand of bacteria, of which he knov/s nothing and cares less. The results of this method of testing have so far proved quite satisfactory and all discs are preserved and filed for future comparison. 11. OTHER FOOD SUPPLIES. Through faulty and clumsy packing, the use of unclean containers and the careless dressing of poultry, the foodstuffs sent for sale at the City Market require constant attention as evidenced by the list of condemnations. Dressed Turkeys 26 H geese 24 Partridges 2 Venison (lbs) 1298 Green beans (bags) 58 Rhubarb (crates) 4 Oranges (pockets) 2 Pickles (bottles) 67 Potatoes (bags) 7 Giblits (packets) 64 Mutton (lbs) 2-g- Beef (lbs) 95 Pomogranates (cases) 2 Grapes (baskets) 10 Nectarines (dried - pkt)24 OTHER CONDEMNED. 25 Boxes dates, 1 Bundle skins. Dressed Fowls. 1518 n ducks. 158 Guinea fowls. 27 Hares. 16 Buck (carcases) 4 Eggs (doz) 28 Cabbages (crate) 1 Tomatoes (boxes) 1 Raisins (packets) 48 Cream (cartons) 846 Cheese (cartons) 62 Cheese (milk - lbs) 96 Cheese (cream - lbs) 6 Green peas (bags) 32 Mushrooms > (box) 1 **********