London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Bethnal Green 1905
Report on the sanitary condition and vital statistics during the year 1905
This page requires JavaScript
APPENDIX H. Food and Drugs Acts.
| Nature of Article. 1 | Samples Taken. 2 | Genuine. 3 | Adulterated. 4 | Summonses Issued. 5 | Convictions. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 428 | 390 | 38 | 32 | 26 |
| Butter | 116 | 98 | 18 | 18 | 13 |
| Coffee | 22 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Demerara Sugar | 11 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Vinegar | 11 | 10 | 1 | — | — |
| Sausages | 10 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Camphorated Oil | 11 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Pepper | 10 | 10 | — | — | — |
| Mustard | 10 | 10 | — | — | __ |
| Liquorice Powder | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Margarine | 4 | 4 | — | — | — |
| Linseed Oil | 4 | 4 | — | _ | — |
| Drugs (Prescriptions) | 3 | 3 | — | — | — |
| Cocoa | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Ground Ginger | 2 | 2 | — | — | |
| Preserved Peas | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Lard | 2 | 2 | — | — | — |
| Cheese | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Crushed Linseed | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Cod Liver Oil | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Arrowroot | 1 | 1 | — | — | — |
| Totals | 656 | 581 | 75 | 61 | 47 |
In the above Appendix it will be observed that there is lack of
agreement between the figures in certain cases, viz.:—between column 4
and column 5, and column 5 and column 6. Theoretically, of course,
these three columns should agree. The following are the reasons why
they do not:—In the case of Milk six samples were found but slightly
adulterated, and the vendors were warned by letter by order of the
Committee. Of thirty-two summonses issued re Adulterated Milk, two
were dismissed on the " warranty " defence, one on the decision of the
magistrate that the certificate was ambiguous, and three were withdrawn,
one on production of a warranty, one by reason of a conviction
being obtained on another summons respecting the same sample, and
one by the Public Health Committee, who accepted the explanation
of the vendor.