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
Wandsworth 1904
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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186
Report—Public Analyst.
These results show that 15.6 per cent. of the milk samples were
adulterated, as compared with 17.28 per cent. in 1903. In the case
of the butter samples, the percentage of impurity has risen from
4.4 in 1903 to 7.2 in 1904.
II.—Groceries.
Under this head were included:—
| Coffee | 25 samples. |
| Mustard | 12 „ |
| Cocoa | 10 ,, |
| Pepper | 10 „ |
| Ground Rice | 5 ,, |
| Cornflour | 4 „ |
| Preserved Green Peas | 4 ,, |
| Sago | 4 ,, |
| Vinegar | 3 ,, |
| Sugar | 3 ,, |
| Jam | 3 „ |
| Tapioca | 3 ,, |
| Baking Powder | 2 ,, |
| Arrowroot | 1 ,, |
| Cinnamon | 1 ,, |
| 90 samples. |
Of these the following seven were found to be more or less impure:—
| Coffee | 58 per cent. Chicory. |
| Coffee | 65 ,, ,, |
| Coffee | 55 ,, ,, |
| Coffee | 44 ,, ,, |
| Cocoa | 70 per cent. Sugar and Sago. |
| Demerara Sugar | 100 per cent. Dyed Crystals. |
| Ground Rice | A small amount of Maize Flour, probably accidental. |
These results show that of these 7.7 per cent. were adulterated.
This indicates an improvement, the percentage of impurity in 1903
being 13.82.