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
Stepney 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Table A.—
| Number of Samples. | Number Genuine. | Number Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seidlitz Powders | 8 | 8 | - | - |
| Lime Water | 13 | 12 | 1 | 7.7 |
| Glauber's Salts | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Boric Acid | 6 | 6 | — | — |
| Glycerine | 7 | 5 | 2 | 28.5 |
| Tincture of Iodine | 9 | 9 | — | — |
| Ammoniated Tincture of Quinine | 4 | 4 | - | - |
| Saffron | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Zinc Ointment | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Borax | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| Olive Oil | 9 | 9 | — | — |
| Camphorated Oil | 12 | 12 | — | — |
| Cod Liver Oil | 3 | 3 | — | — |
| Castor Oil | 4 | 4 | — | — |
| 1,398 | 1,371 | 27 | 1.9 |
The number of samples found to be adulterated was 27 or 1.9 per cent.
Table B shows the number of samples analysed and the number found to
be adulterated during the past nine years.
Table B.
| Year. | Number of Samples. | Number Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | 1,213 | 154 | 12.7 |
| 1916 | 1,202 | 147 | 12.2 |
| 1917 | 1,123 | 120 | 10.6 |
| 1918 | 1,124 | 123 | 10.9 |
| 1919 | 1,175 | 70 | 6.0 |
| 1920 | 1,190 | 55 | 4.6 |
| 1921 | 1,402 | 86 | 6.1 |
| 1922 | 1,417 | 78 | 5.5 |
| 1923 | 1,398 | 27 | 1.9 |
The decrease in the percentage of adulteration in 1923 is very striking
and the fact that adulteration in Stepney is on the decrease is well illustrated
by the above figures.