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 1915
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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42
In the cases in which convictions were obtained the penalties for milkadulteration
amounted to £32 9s. 6d., which is equivalent to 4.5 per cent, of the
full amount of the penalties to which the defendants were liable. Taking fines
and costs, which in the aggregate amounted to £42 10s. 6d., the average amount
paid by the defendants on conviction was £2 16s. 8d.
Of the samples of butter taken 4 or 3.6 per cent, were not genuine. Nearly
all the samples taken contained a small amount of boric acid not exceeding 0.5
percent.
The numbers of samples and the percentages of those found adulterated during the four quarters of the year are as shown in the subjoined table :—
| Quarter of the year. | Number of Samples. | Number not genuine. | Percentage adulterated. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 23 | 1 | 41 | ||
| 2nd | 18 | ... | ... | ||
| 3rd | 20 | 1 | 5 | ||
| 4th | 48 | 2 | 41 | ||
Of the samples sold as butter found not genuine two were samples of
margarine, one contained foreign fats in a large amount and was probably a
mixture of butter and margarine, and one contained water in excess of the
16 per cent, standard. In the first two cases proceedings were taken, the
defendants being fined £1 10s. 0d. and 9s. 6d., with 10s. 6d. costs, respectively.
In the case of the mixture proceedings were also taken, the defendant being
fined £3.
The penalties inflicted amounted to £4 19s. 6d., or approximately 2.2 per cent,
of the maximum penalties to which the defendants were liable. Including costs,
which amounted to 10s. 6d., the amounts paid by defendants averaged £1 16s. 8d.,
which is lower than any so far recorded.
Twenty-one samples of margarine were taken, the samples being sold in
wrappers not bearing the word "Margarine" legibly stamped thereon as required
by the Margarine Act. Proceedings were taken in 9 instances and convictions
obtained in all. Nearly every one of the Margarine samples contained boric acid,
but not exceeding 0.5 per cent. The fines amounted to £4 2s. 6d., and
£4 14s. 6d. costs were allowed the Council. The fines under the Margarine Act
amounted to a little under 2.3 per cent, of the maximum penalties to which the
defendants were liable. Including costs, the amounts paid by the defendants
averaged 19s. 6d.
The sample of brawn contained boric acid to the extent of 5 grains per pound.
One of the samples of coffee contained 30 per cent, of chicory; the vendor was