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91
purposes. In view, however, of the fact that in both cases the
houses were in addition supplied with water direct from the
Water Company's Mains, the Health Committee was advised by
the Solicitor to take no action in the matter at present.
FOOD AND FOOD SUPPLY.
The important subject of food, being the prime necessity of
mortal existence, continues to receive the close and careful
attention of the Public Health Department.
Sale of
Foodand
Drugs Acts.
With a view to the detection of adulteration
and abstraction,'five hundred samples are now yearly
taken under the Sale of Food and Drues Acts—
Milk being so important an article of food, particularly for
infants, receiving the closest attention. A large number of
successful prosecutions, details of which will be found in the
reports of the Public Analyst and the Chief Sanitary Inspector,
have been obtained during the year under these Acts. Considerable
difficulty has occurred in connection with the subject
of food preservatives, particularly boric acid in milk; several
summonses were issued in such cases but were eventually
withdrawn. In March, the Vestry passed a resolution urging
the Government to insert a clause in the Food and Drugs Bill
requiring full disclosure of the presence of preservatives to the
purchaser, and that the amount of such preservatives be restricted
in accordance with such order as the Court of Reference may
make.
Condensed
Milk.
Public attention has lately been directed to the
importance of milk being used in its entirety, more
especially in the case of infants brought up wholly or in part by
hand, whether the milk is given as derived from the cow or as
condensed milk, the abstraction of the most important element,