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23
For many years more samples have been taken in St.
Marylebone than in any district in the Metropolis, with the
happy result that, at all events, gross adulteration of milk
has received a considerable check. It is capable of proof
that several itinerant vendors known to carry on a distinctly
dishonest trade avoid the parish; others who resided in the
district, after frequent fining, have removed elsewhere.
No amount of supervision can, however, prevent skilful
watering down and skimming to the low limit of the food
analyst, and generally speaking London milk, in comparison
to the milk sold retail in counties such as Devonshire, is
second class.
During 1893, 205 samples of milk were submitted to
analysis, and in 24 cases certified to be adulterated. These
samples were taken at all times of the day, some indeed
were taken from the Railway Station as the milk was
delivered, in the small hours of the morning; many samples
were taken on Sunday, and to meet the objection that the
Inspectors were personally known to the vendors, there was
a free use of agents. The fines received from the prosecution
of adulterators of milk amounted to £26.
There appears to be little butter in the parish sold in
contravention to the Act. Out of 101 samples collected
from different places, many from coffee houses, only 4 were
certified to be mixtures, or to be margarine. The vendors
of the 4 samples were prosecuted and fined, the fines
received amounting to 30s.
There were also a few prosecutions for diluted spirits.
The total amount of fines received for offences against
the Sale of Food and Drugs Act amounted to £28 10s.
WATER AND GAS.
The water as well as the gas supplied to the parish
has been systematically examined, and the results published
month by month.