[Report 1937] / Medical Officer of Health, Hertfordshire County Council.

  • Hertfordshire (England). County Council. n 50062101.
Date:
1937
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1937] / Medical Officer of Health, Hertfordshire County Council. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    80/82 (page 78)
    Of the 32 samples of milk taken on “ appeal to cow ” in connection with samples that were found to be unsatisfactory, only one showed any deficiency in non-fatty Solids, and this sample had the freezing point of genuine milk. Fifteen of the “ appeal to cow ” samples, however, showed natural deficiencies in fat. One sample of butter contained an excessive quantity of water, namely 18*3 per cent, being 2*3 per cent above the maximum quantity of 16 per cent allowed by the regulations of the Ministry of Agriculture. Two samples purchased as “ lard ” were found to consist of lard substitutes. A sample of shredded suet was found to contain 2 per cent of rice flour beyond the recognized maximum quantity needed to keep shredded suet in a satisfactory condition. One sample of sausages was found to contain sulphur dioxide without notice of preservative having been given to the purchaser. One sample of pepper was found to be mixed with carbonate of magnesia to the extent of 2-J per cent. One sample of vinegar, sold as such without any descriptive prefix, was found to consist of artificial vinegar, but was of the full acid strength of genuine vinegar. All of the other samples dealt with were satisfactory. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS. n o O o The health of the County during 1937 has generally been satisfactory apart from an epidemic of influenza during the early part of the year. The estimated population of the County is given as 474,700 compared with 460,150 for 1936 ; this represents an increase of 3:4,550 compared with 18,450 last year. There has been an increase in the birth-rate, which was 14-6 compared with 14*4 last year. The actual number of births was 6,957 compared with 6,665 in the previous year. A slight rise has occurred in the death-rate which was 10*i compared with 10 *o in 1936, the causes of this increase are discussed in the body of the report. The infant mortality was 37, the same as last year. There has been a fall in the infant mortality in the urban districts but a rise in the rural districts. The figure of 37 for the infant mortality compares favourably with that of 58 for England and Wales. A slight increase has occurred in the maternal mortality which was 2-4 compared with 2*1 last year. The rate for England