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
Lewisham 1953
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lewisham Borough]
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72
The following table gives the groupings and the results of the
samples analysed :—
Table 40
| ARTICLES | Examined | Adulterated | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Informal | Formal | Total | Informal | Formal | Total | |
| Beverages, liquid | 20 | – | 20 | – | – | – |
| Butter | 16 | — | 16 | — | – | — |
| Cereals, bread, baking powder | 82 | – | 82 | – | – | – |
| Cheese | 15 | — | 15 | — | – | — |
| Cocoa, coffee, tea | 16 | — | 16 | – | — | |
| Condiments and flavourers | 192 | 1 | 193 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Confectionery (sweets) | 12 | — | 12 | – | – | — |
| Cream | 5 | — | 5 | – | – | — |
| Drugs | 61 | 1 | 62 | 1 | – | 1 |
| Fish, tinned | 11 | — | 11 | – | — | |
| Fruit, dried | 12 | — | 12 | . | – | — |
| Icecream | 69 | 2 | 71 | 1 | – | 1 |
| Ice lollies | 25 | — | 25 | – | – | — |
| Lard | 15 | — | 15 | – | – | — |
| Margarine | 16 | — | 16 | – | – | — |
| Milk | 100 | — | 100 | – | – | — |
| Milk, condensed | 7 | — | 7 | – | – | — |
| Paste, fish and meat | 50 | — | 50 | – | – | |
| Sausages and preserved meats | 62 | 1 | 63 | 1 | – | 1 |
| Soup | 19 | — | 19 | – | – | — |
| Spirits | 6 | — | 6 | – | – | — |
| Other foods | 50 | — | 50 | – | – | — |
| TOTALS | 861 | 5 | 866 | 4 | 1 | 5 |
Adulterated samples
Table 41
| Article | Formal or Informal | Adulteration or irregularity | Action taken |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sal Volatile | Informal | Ammonia deficient 30.3% | Seven bottles of consignment withdrawn from sale. Formal sample taken on delivery from wholesalers. Found to be genuine. |
| Dried parsley | Informal | Siliceous matter 6.9% | Report to Health Com. mittee. Warning letter sent to retailer. |
| Dried parsley | Formal | Siliceous matter 8.2% | |
| Icecream | Informal | Fat deficient 42.5% | Two formal samples taken. Both found to be genuine. |
| Pork sausages | Informal | 1130 parts of sulphur dioxide per million. | Formal sample taken and found to be genuine. |