Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Report on the sanitary condition and vital statistics during the year 1905
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APPENDIX H. Food and Drugs Acts.
Nature of Article. 1 | Samples Taken. 2 | Genuine. 3 | Adulterated. 4 | Summonses Issued. 5 | Convictions. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Milk | 428 | 390 | 38 | 32 | 26 |
Butter | 116 | 98 | 18 | 18 | 13 |
Coffee | 22 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Demerara Sugar | 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
Vinegar | 11 | 10 | 1 | — | — |
Sausages | 10 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
Camphorated Oil | 11 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Pepper | 10 | 10 | — | — | — |
Mustard | 10 | 10 | — | — | __ |
Liquorice Powder | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
Margarine | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
Linseed Oil | 4 | 4 | — | _ | — |
Drugs (Prescriptions) | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
Cocoa | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Ground Ginger | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
Preserved Peas | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Lard | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
Cheese | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Crushed Linseed | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Cod Liver Oil | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Arrowroot | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
Totals | 656 | 581 | 75 | 61 | 47 |
In the above Appendix it will be observed that there is lack of
agreement between the figures in certain cases, viz.:—between column 4
and column 5, and column 5 and column 6. Theoretically, of course,
these three columns should agree. The following are the reasons why
they do not:—In the case of Milk six samples were found but slightly
adulterated, and the vendors were warned by letter by order of the
Committee. Of thirty-two summonses issued re Adulterated Milk, two
were dismissed on the " warranty " defence, one on the decision of the
magistrate that the certificate was ambiguous, and three were withdrawn,
one on production of a warranty, one by reason of a conviction
being obtained on another summons respecting the same sample, and
one by the Public Health Committee, who accepted the explanation
of the vendor.