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 1881
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch, Parish of St. Leonard]
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COMPARATIVE ANALYSES.
| Genuine average Milk. | Milk substitute diluted with three times its hulk of water, i.e., one part substitute made into four parts of Milk. | |
|---|---|---|
| Butter-fat | 3.20 | 2.29 |
| Milk-sugar | 4.35 | 5.60 |
| Casein | 4.20 | 3.01 |
| Mineral matter (ash) | 0.75 | 0.80 |
| Total solids | 12.50 | 11.70 |
| Water | 87.50 | 88.30 |
| 100.00 | 100.00 | |
| Specific gravity | 1.032 | 1.032 |
(Compare the above with the following which is the Milk
Substitute as delivered.)
Butter-fat 9.16
Milk-sugar 22.38
Casein 12.04
Mineral matter (ash) 3.20
Total solids 46.78
Water 53.22
100.00
Specific gravity 1.129
The substitute, when diluted, has all the properties of milk,
except this physical defect—that it does not throw up cream readily,
and has a peculiar appearance known to the initiated.
(Signed) Thos. Stevenson.
Bread.—The form of adulteration in bread is the admixture
of alum. Convictions can hardly be obtained, because it is used
only in small quantities, and is not certified when in the bread
to be injurious to health, although as unmixed alum it might be.
It is used to whiten and stiffen inferior flour.