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
Shoreditch 1906
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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The subjoined table shows a comparison of the results of the work under the Food and Drugs Acts during the years 1902-6 inclusive:—
| Year. | Number of Samples. | Number of persons in the Borough to each sample. | Number of samples adulterated. | Percentage of samples adulterated. | Number of prosecutions instituted. | Summonses withdrawn on account of warranties, &c. | Prosecutions proceeded with. | Number of successful prosecutions. | Fines and Costs. | Amounts paid to Public Analyst. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | |||||||||
| 1902 | 281 | 420 | 71 | 253 | 54 | 2 | 52 | 48 | 117 | 9 | 0 | 140 | 10 | 0 |
| 1903 | 707 | 166 | 112 | 15.8 | 60 | 5 | 55 | 51 | 173 | 11 | 6 | 353 | 10 | 0 |
| 1904 | 612 | 189 | 110 | 17.9 | 55 | 6 | 50 | 46 | 128 | 5 | 0 | 306 | 0 | 0 |
| 1905 | 536 | 215 | 98 | 18 2 | 57 | 2 | 51 | 47 | 233 | 18 | 0 | 267 | 0 | 0 |
| 1906 | 520 | 224 | 122 | 23.4 | 44 | 2 | 42 | 34 | 106 | 12 | 6 | 260 | 0 | 0 |
The marked increase during 1906 in the percentage of samples adulterated as
shown in the above table was chiefly due to a larger proportion of the milk samples
deviating from the standard of the Board of Agriculture, to such a small extent, however,
as to render legal proceedings inadvisable.
SANITARY STAFF.
During the first two months of the year the department was short of the services
of one inspector, owing to Mr. J. H. Pearson, who was appointed to fill the post
vacated by Mr. J. H. Clements, being unable to commence his duties in Shoreditch
until 26th February. As far as practicable the work on the vacant district during
that time was attended to by the inspectors of the adjacent districts in the Borough.
The manner in which the officers of the Health Department have carried out
their duties during the year has been to my satisfaction, and I have to express my
appreciation of the assistance I have received from them in connection with the work
of the department. My thanks are also due to the Chairman and members of the
Health Committee for the consideration and help they have afforded me in my official
work during the year.
I have the honour to be,
Mr. Mayor and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
LEWIS T. FRASER BRYETT,
Medical Officer of Health.