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 1904

Report on the public health of Finsbury 1904 including annual report on factories and workshops

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Table: The comparative figures for 1903 (the most recent obtainable) work out as follows :—

The comparative figures for 1903 (the most recent obtainable) work out as follows :—

Percentage of Milk Adulteration.
Borough of Finsbury18.1
London13.5
Twenty largest towns of England and Wales10.7
The rest of England and Wales8.5

Table: The percentages of adulteration for every five years since 1877 for England and Wales may also be added for comparative purposes:—

The percentages of adulteration for every five years since 1877 for England and Wales may also be added for comparative purposes:—

No. of Samples in 1903.Percentage of Adulteration in
1903.1902.Quinquennium.
ExaminedFound Adulterated
1897. 01.1892.96.1887.91.1882-86.1877-81.
MILK33,0903,43010 411.610.612.3I3.216.721. 1

Text

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An examination of the table of results of analysis will
show that much the most common adulteration is that of added
water. It is, of course, the easiest to manage, and appears to the
offender a less formidable undertaking than absolutely "tampering"
with the milk.
SALE OF FOOD & DRUGS ACTS.
Under the Bye-laws of the Borough Council, each Sanitary
Inspector acts, in his own sanitary district, as an Inspector under
the above Acts. During the year 1904 the Inspectors collected 610
samples, of which 73 (or 11.9 per cent.) were adulterated. There
were 20 prosecutions under the Acts, the aggregate amount of fines
and costs inficted being £82 3s. 6d. In 1903, 14.1 per cent, of
the samples were found to be adulterated, and there were 46
prosecutions.