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46
clerical work
Samples of milk are periodically taken on Sundays and on Bank Holidays. Of 154 Sunday
samples (1919-20) 8 were found to be adulterated, equal to 5.1 per cent. of those samples, as
compared with 59 per cent. during 1914-18. Fifteen samples were taken during the two years
on Bank Holidays, only one (6.6 per cent.) being found to be adulterated. During 1914-18 the
percentage was 15.9. The total of these "off day" samples for the two years was 169 with
9 adulterated samples, equal to 5.3 per cent. as compared with 4.2 per cent of all other
milk samples.
Milk in Transit.—Of 79 samples taken at Paddington Station in 1919, 13 were adulterated,
equal to 16.5 per cent. and of 45 taken in 1920, 5 (4.4 per cent.) In the two years the
124 samples yielded 18 adulterated, equal to 14.5 per cent. as compared with 29.6 per cent.
during 1909-13 and 39.2 per cent. during 1914-18.
After excluding "off day'" and transit samples, the remaining 451 samples of milk taken
during 1919-20 yielded 6 adulterated samples, or 1.3 per cent. only—a very satisfactory record.
Cream Regulations.—During 1919 there was practically no trade in cream. In 1920,
6 samples were taken, 2 of "fresh" cream and 4 of "preserved." The former were found to be
free from preservative and of the latter preservative was found in 3 only, 1 to the amount of
0.3 per cent. boric acid, and the other two "a trace only." All the preserved creams bore the
statutory label declaring the presence of 0.5 per cent. of preservative. In all the "preserved"
creams the milk fat exceeded 35 per cent. No infringements of the Regulations were discovered.
VIII.—CLERICAL WORK.
Figures relating to certain items of the work of the Clerical Staff are given in Table XXVIII.
In most instances the figures (notably those for 1920) show considerable increases on the
averages for the period 1914-18, a fact largely attributable to the additional duties which have
fallen to the Department since the war in connection with housing, maternity and child
welfare, tuberculosis and other branches of Public Health Administration. It is impossible to
show in tabular form the work involved in the preparation of reports for Committees, the
making of returns to Government Departments, the London County Council and Metropolitan
Asylums Board, and the compilation of statistical data, to mention but a few of the many other
details of the Staffs activities, consequently the table must be regarded as nothing more than a
very incomplete record.
IX.—LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The fines imposed during 1919 amounted to £214 10s. 0d. and the costs to £75 2s. 6d.,
the corresponding figures for 1920, being £42 5s. 0d. and £44 8s. 0d. The differences in the
amounts for the two years are due to the small number of cases (3) of food adulteration in the
second year. In "Health Cases" the total fines and costs amounted to £105 6s. 6d. during the
two years and in "Food Cases" to £270 19s. 0d. All fines and costs are received by the
Council except under the "Notification of Births Acts"—4 cases in 1919 yielding £5 10s. 0d.
in fines and £8 3s. 0d. in costs (paid to the Council) and £5 5s. 0d. costs against the Council.
The following statement shows how the totals of fines and costs have varied during the last
five years.
"Health Cases"
£ s. d.
"Food Cases"
£ s. d.
1920 50 14 6 35 18 6
1919 54 12 0 235 0 6
1918 45 8 0 139 15 6
1917 14 4 6 49 0 0
1916 21 17 0 108 12 6
The averages per conviction in "Food Cases" during the last five years have been:
1920
£ s. d.
1919
£ s. d.
1918
£ s. d.
1917
£ s. d.
1916
£ s. d.
Fine 7 5 0 6 8 8 4 14 2 1 16 8 3 7 7
Costs 1 14 7 1 7 1 17 10 14 6 1 15 10
The summaries of cases taken before the Court usually appended, are omitted to save
space.