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1902] 214
Milks-—The milks analysed numbered 586, of which 58 or 9.9 per cent.
were adulterated, as compared with 12.0 per cent. in the preceding year. The
milks may be divided into three categories, those (1) purchased on Sundays
(2) on week-days (3) obtained at Railway Stations in course of transit. Of the
192 purchased on Sundays, 20, or 10.4 per cent., were adulterated; of 274
purchased on week-days, 36, or 13.1 per cent., were adulterated; and of 90
procured at Railway Stations while in transit only 2, or 2.2 per cent., were
adulterated. From the last circumstances it is clearly evident that the
adulteration of our milks takes place not at the hands of the farmer, but at
those of the wholesale and retail vendors.

When we compare these figures we may well be thankful that the
vendors do not reduce our milk to the limit which the Official Standard
practically invites, particularly with respect te the quantity of the fat or
cream, which on the basis of the figures of the Railway Station milks would
permit nearly a fourth (22.1 per cent.) to be removed before the milk would
be considered deficient in it. Even then a magistrate would not grant a
summons unless there was a further five per cent, deficiency on the standard,
so that in 1902 in Islington one might with impunity be robbed of 27*1 per
cent, of the milk fat before redress could be obtained. Truly this might
be said to be robbery made legal.