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
Islington 1896
Forty-first annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington
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[1896
160
In the report of the Food Products Committee of the House of
Commons, they say that it is "a fraud" to sell beet sugar for Demerara,
and it was on account of this strong expression of opinion that these
samples were procured.
Since these prosecutions took place, very many have occurred
throughout the country, the magistrates universally holding that the
purchaser must be given the article for which he asked, and not that
which the grocer thought would suit him better.
Prescriptions—Eight prescriptions were submitted to Pharmaceutical
Chemists to be compounded secundum artem, and it is very unsatisfactory
to report that in 5 instances they were incorrectly made up.
Table XCIII.
| No. of Samples | Description. | Genuine. | Adulterated |
|---|---|---|---|
| 466 | Milk | 416 | 50 |
| 16 | Whisky | 14 | 2 |
| 5 | Gin | 5 | — |
| 3 | Cocoa | 1 | 2 |
| 11 | Coffee | 10 | 1 |
| 14 | Demerara Sugar | 2 | 12 |
| 5 | Black Pepper | 5 | — |
| 2 | White Pepper | 2 | — |
| 4 | Mustard | 4 | — |
| 1 | Arrowroot | 1 | — |
| 1 | Flour | 1 | — |
| 2 | Pickles | 2 | — |
| 2 | Vinegar | 2 | — |
| 2 | Bread | 2 | — |
| 149 | Butter | 129 | 20 |
| 9 | Lard | 9 | — |
| 27 | Cheddar Cheese | 25 | 2 |
| 1 | Yeast | 1 | — |
| 4 | Soda Water | 4 | — |
| 1 | Diluted Acetic Acid | 1 | — |
| 6 | Ground Ginger | 6 | — |
| 4 | Solution of Iodine | 4 | — |
| 4 | Olive Oil | 4 | — |
| 2 | Tincture of Rhubarb | 2 | — |
| 2 | Tincture of Squills | 2 | — |
| 4 | Cream of Tartar | 4 | |
| 8 | Prescriptions | 3 | 5 |
| 755 | All Articles of Food | 661 | 94 |