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102
Milk Shops.
In 1905 the milk-shops were kept under systematic supervision
by Inspector Benjamin. The number of milk-shops on
the register at the end of 1904 was 246; during 1905, 48 new
milk-shops were added, and the use of 40 discontinued, the
total number at the end of 1905 being 254. In 154 instances
milk was sold in general shops; in 76, in shops where only
dairy produce was sold; in 14, in confectioners' shops, and in
9 cases milk was found to be sold from a dwelling"-house and in
one case from a coffee shop. Only 16 milk sellers in Battersea
obtain milk direct from the farmer; 136 are supplied by
wholesale dealers, 91 by other retail purveyors of milk in
Battersea, and 11 from retail dealers outside Battersea. In
108 instances less than one gallon of milk is sold daily, in 57
shops between one and ten gallons are sold daily per shop, and
in 89 shops the daily quantity of milk sold per shop is over ten
gallons. Forty-three intimations were served for offences under
the Public Health Act discovered in milk-shops, and 16 special
letters were sent out, calling upon defaulting purveyors of
milk to comply with the Milk Regulations of the London
County Council. Particulars as to the prevalence of milk
adulteration in Battersea are given in the section of this report
dealing with the administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs
Acts. Legal proceedings were taken in respect to 69 adulterated
samples, and the results of the prosecutions are set out on
pages 138-151. One milk-seller was prosecuted, under the
Milk Regulations, for storing milk in a stable, and was fined
£I and costs.
Unsound Food.
Two seizures of unsound food, one of unsound fish, the
other of unsound strawberries, were made during the year.
Legal proceedings were taken in both cases, and the defendants
convicted and fined.
In cases where the retail vendor has unknowingly
purchased articles of food unfit for human consumption, and
has made no attempt to sell the articles, it is the practice,
when the latter are brought to the Health Office, to grant a