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
Poplar 1902
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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Of these 369 samples 51 (13.8 per cent.) were found to be adulterated as follows:—
| Milk | 31 |
| Butter | 10 |
| Mustard | 1 |
| Vinegar | 1 |
| Sugar | 1 |
| Bread | 2 |
| Coffee | 2 |
| Cocoa | 2 |
| Lime water | 1 |
| 51 |
In the 147 samples of milk, preservatives were found in 20
instances (13.6 per cent.) as under:—
Formalin:—0.02 per cent., 0.02 per cent.
Boric acid:— 0.2 per cent., 0.01 per cent., 0.02 per cent., 0.3 per
0.07 per cent., 0..07 per cent., 0.07 per cent., 0.04 per cent., 0.06 per
cent., 0.08 per cent., 0.06 per cent., 0.l per cent., 0.05 per cent.,
0.05 per cent., 0.03 per cent., 0.06 per cent., 0.02 per cent., 0.05
per cent.
In the 89 samples of butter, preservatives were found in 25
instances (28.0 per cent.) as follows:—
Carbonate of soda :—4.9 per cent., 0.21 per cent.
Boric acid:—0.3 per cent., 0.38 per cent., 0.3 per cent, 0.39 per
cent., 0.24 per cent., 0.3 per cent., 0.3 per cent., 0.1 per cent., 0.3
per cent., 0.2 per cent., 0.05 per cent., 0.15 per cent., 0.19 per cent.,
0.3 per cent., 0.8 per cent., 0.22 per cent., 0.43 per cent., 0.3 per
cent., 0.1 per cent., 0.4 per cent., 0.24 per cent., 0.44 per cent.,
0.04 per cent.
In one sample of cocoa 2 per cent. of carbonate of potassium was
found.