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
Lambeth 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Lambeth, Metropolitan Borough of]
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(f) Drugs.
62 samples were taken, and of these 6 {i.e. 9.7 per cent.) were declared by the Analyst to .be adulterated, the details being as follow:—
| Total samples. | No. samples adulterated. | Action taken. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beeswax | 24 | 4 (=16.7%) | Summons, £1 and 12s. 6d. costs. |
| Summons, 12s. 6d. costs. | |||
| Summons dismissed No action. | |||
| Gregory powder | 9 | 1 (=111%) | Summons, 10s., and 12s. 6d. costs. |
| Camphorated oil | 13 | 1 (=7.7%) | No action. |
| Other drugs | 16 | 0 | |
The adulterations in the beeswax cases consisted of the admixture
of foreign ingredients, viz., paraffin, wax and resin,
amounting to 25, 30, 55 and 95 per cent, respectively. In 3
cases summonses were taken out with the result that there were
>
2 convictions, the other summons being dismissed on the ground
that the beeswax was not divided properly into 3 parts as
required by the Acts. In one case no summons was taken out,
the sample being taken from an oil shop and not from a
chemist.
The Gregory powder was found to have been made with 67
per cent, of magnesium carbonate instead of oxide. A conviction
was obtained in this case.
The camphorated oil sample was found not to have been
made with olive oil, but in this case no summons was taken out
having regard to the nature of the adulteration, and the fact that
the sample was purchased from an oil shop and not from a
chemist.