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 1897

Forty-second annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington

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164
1897]
THE ADULTERATION OF FOOD.
During the year 863 samples of drugs and foods, and 40 samples of
margarine, were procured for analysis. 98 of the former, or 11.3 per
cent., were returned by the Public Analyst (Dr. F. L. Teed) as being
adulterated, whilst 13 samples of margarine were sold in contravention
of the Act.

Table: In the following statement will be seen the result of the analysis for each quarter:—

In the following statement will be seen the result of the analysis for each quarter:—

No. of Samples.Genuine.Adulterated.Per cent. adulterated.
1897.1896.
1st Quarter258237218.115.7
2nd „2231992410.86.1
3rd „1431182517.512.8
4th „2392112811.715.5
Totals8637659811.312.4

Table: In the preceding six years the number of samples procured for analysis with the results were as follows:—

In the preceding six years the number of samples procured for analysis with the results were as follows:—

Year.No. of Samples.Genuine.Adulterated.Per. cent. Adulterated.
1891368345236.2
18923673026517.7
18933783275113.5
18943903424812.3
18957726739912.8
18967556619412.4
Totals3,0302,65038012.5

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From this table it is perceived that the percentage of adulteration
for 1897 is about one per cent. lower than that which obtained
during the six years 1891-6.
Milk.—Out of 513 samples of Milk 49, or 9.5 per cent. were
adulterated.
Of these 513 samples 156 were procured on week-days and 25, or
16.0 per cent., were adulterated.