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"London, in point of proportion of samples adulterated during the
year 1902, was exceeded by Bradford, West Ham, and Leeds, and by
Birmingham, Leeds, and Newcastle in respect of milk samples.
"Comparison may be made between the Metropolitan Boroughs in
respect of adulteration in 1902.
"Table E shows that the following districts had the lowest and
highest percentage of adulteration respectively:—

"It will be seen that there are great differences between the extent
to which the provisions of the Food and Drugs Acts are carried out in
the several London districts, and, in respect of milk, it will be noted
that St. Pancras and Lambeth, in which large railway stations are
situated, purchase, in proportion to their resident population, fewer
samples than the average of London. The annual report of the Medical
Officer of Health of Islington shows that, as the result of analysis of
milk taken in Islington at the railway stations and elsewhere, the
former was found to be much less adulterated than the latter, and this
would accord with the fact that there are fewer opportunities for the
adulteration of milk up to the time of arriving at the railway stations
than of milk subsequently taken to milk vendors' premises. Nevertheless,
there ought to be abundant analysis of milk arriving at stations,
and which is subsequently to be distributed over London. Sanitary
authorities cannot purchase samples under the Act outside their own
districts, and it is obviously unfair to expect sanitary authorities of
districts in which are large railway stations to purchase milk for analysis
when the milk is only in transit through their districts."