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
Finsbury 1902
Report on the public health of 1902
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The samples collected were as follow:—
| Samples taken. | Adulterated. | Samples taken. | Adulterated. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 269 | 53 | Camphorated Oil | 6 | 3 |
| Condensed Milk | 5 | 5 | Olive Oil | 1 | ... |
| Butter | 133 | 10 | Arrowroot | 1 | ... |
| Ice Cream | 1 | ... | Golden Syrup | 4 | ... |
| Cheese | 12 | ... | Lard | 16 | ... |
| Mustard | 15 | ... | Dripping | 1 | ... |
| Pepper | 15 | ... | Brandy | 10 | 1 |
| Cocoa | 8 | 1 | Gin | 6 | 1 |
| Coffee | 22 | 3 | Rum | 7 | 1 |
| Demerara Sugar | 6 | 1 | Whisky | 12 | 2 |
| Flour | 1 | ... | |||
| Ground Ginger | 2 | ... | |||
| Honey | 3 | ... | 556 | 81 |
Sampling is undertaken at various irregular times, including
Sundays and in the evenings. Inspectors also change districts.
All the various milk-sellers in the Borough are sampled without
exception at some time during the year, and samples are also
obtained from hawkers and others passing through the Borough,
though not having any shop or premises in the Borough.
WATER SUPPLY.
The water supply of the Borough is derived from the New
River Company. According to the official water examinations,
made under the Metropolis Water Act, 1871, the quality of the
water is excellent. Taking the mean of the 12 months (monthly
bacterial examinations), the New River unfiltered water contained
273 bacteria per c.c. (=20 drops), and the filtered water, as