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
Fulham 1905
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health for the year ending December 31st, 1905
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62
costs was not sufficient to enable the Court to say that these
proceedings ought not to have been instituted by him.
The other learned Judges agreed, and the appeal was
accordingly dismissed, but without costs.
PKOCEEDINGS UNDER THE SALE OF FOOD AND
DRUGS ACTS.
The following samples were purchased for analysis in 1905.
| Article. | Number of Samples. | Number Adulterated. | Number Inferior. | Percentage age of Adulteration. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 213 | 39 | 20 | 18.3 |
| Condensed Milk | 5 | – | – | – |
| Butter | 315 | 62 | 19.7 | – |
| Margarine | 1 | – | – | – |
| Dutch Cheese | 7 | 3 | – | 42.9 |
| Coffee | 48 | 33 | – | 68.7 |
| Vinegar | 5 | – | – | – |
| Raspberry Jam | 10 | 3 | – | 30.0 |
| Rice | 3 | 1 | – | 33.3 |
| Drugs | 6 | – | – | – |
| 613 | 141 | 20 | 22.4 |
In the five preceding years the samples purchased for analysis were as under:—
| Number of Samples. | Number Adulterated. | Percentage of Adulteration. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 363 | 21 | 5.8 |
| 1901 | 366 | 24 | 6.6 |
| 1902 | 354 | 18 | 5.1 |
| 1903 | 487 | 54 | 11.1 |
| 17.1 | 1904 | 673 | 115 |
The percentage of adulteration is extremely high, being
more than double that for the County of London in 1904, the
most recent year for which statistics have been published.
The marked increase in adulteration of late, coincides with
the appointment of a special Food Inspector, and must be looked