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
Wandsworth 1919
Annual report on the health, sanitary condition, &c., of the Borough for the year1919
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Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
composition, the sample being suspected of containing deleterious
matter. On examination such was found not to be the case, and the
sample was, consequently, returned as " genuine."
The three informal samples of dried milk examined possessed
fat contents of 26.6%, 29.3% and 25.5%, respectively, and when
diluted with water, according to the directions printed upon the
packages, yielded "milks," which contained 3.44%, 3.68% and
3.84% milk fat respectively. None of the samples contained any
preservative.
Butter.
In all 335 samples of butter were submitted during the year,
five of which were taken with the necessary formalities, and 330
obtained informally.
Of these, four formal and 31 informal samples were reported
against.
The nature and extent of the adulteration in the case of the formal samples is given in the following table:—
| Case No. | Nature of report. |
|---|---|
| 72 | 30% margarine. |
| 159 | 33% margarine. |
| 160 | 15% margarine. |
| 793 | 33% margarine. |
Of the 31 informal samples of butter reported against, 25
were found to contain margarine, five excess of boron preservative
over the maximum permissible, namely, 0.5 per cent. crystallised
boric acid; whilst one contained both margarine and an excessive
quantity of preservative.
Statistics are always dangerous things and the unreliability
of them when applied to reports issued by public analysts under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts is illustrated in a remarkable way
in the statement given above as to the adulteration of formal
samples of butter.