View report page

224
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
"5th August, 1909.
"The attention of the Medical Officer of Health has been
called to the fact that ginger beer is being sold from barrels
stored in cellars with lead communicating pipes to the engine
on the counter. As there is serious risk of the ginger beer
being contaminated with lead and thus causing lead poisoning
this practice should, in the opinion of the Medical Officer
of Health, be at once discontinued."
The Inspector when visiting the premises where notice had
been given, reported to me that most of the vendors had discontinued
the above practice, but in some instances where it had not
been given up the Inspector obtained samples, which proved on
analysis to contain metallic lead, and in one case the vendor was
proceeded against, and although the magistrate only ordered the
defendant to pay costs, yet in my opinion the prosecution had a
salutary effect in giving publicity to the matter.
The amount of metallic lead found in four of the samples
taken was as follows: 3.3 grains per gallon, 1.5 grains per
gallon, 1.05 grains per gallon, and .42 grains per gallon.
In perusing Table XCIX. it will be noticed that the item
under Cereals shows a large amount of adulteration.
This was caused by the number of samples of rice found to
be adulterated, the adulteration consisting of an excess of mineral
matter (talc or steatite), used for polishing" the rice and giving it
a white appearance. The following circular letter was issued by
this Council and delivered to all the grocers and others who sell
rice in the Borough, calling their attention to this practice:—
"Metropolitan Borough of Wandsworth.
"The attention of the Wandsworth Borough Council has
been called to the large amount of mineral matter in samples
of rice which have been submitted to the Public Analyst,
which mineral matter consists wholly of talc or steatite, used
for polishing the rice and giving it a white appearance. As
rice is a diet that is frequently prescribed for infants and