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217 [1902
which chemists have protected themselves by printing on a label attached to
the bottle containing them a notice stating that they were not guaranteed as
B.P. (British Pharmacopoeia). On the other hand, although they were sold as
"Blaud's Pills" it was not possible to prove that they were not compounded
according to the formula of Dr. Blaud, who had first prescribed them. Indeed,
because of this difficulty prosecutions in other places have failed, although
recently in Islington one has been successfully undertaken because the formula
was proved by the production of the "Codex Medicamentarius—Pharmacopee
Francaise," in which they are called "Pilules Ferrugineuses de Blaud" or
"Piluloe D. Blaud." In the instance in which the pills were not of the proper
strength there was a deficiency of 50 per cent, of the chief ingredient.
Cream of Tartar.—Six samples were obtained, all of which were found to
contain lead in small quantities. Summonses were duly issued, but on your
Medical Officer of Health making many enquiries he found that he could obtain
no samples that were free from it. He consequently gave notice to the vendors
that the summonses would be withdrawn. This was done by the Council's
solicitor on the day fixed for the hearing, but nevertheless, the solicitor (Mr.
Beck) for the defendants appeared and thanked the Council for the course that
had been adopted, which was highly appreciated. The action of your Medical
Officer of Health was also praised at a meeting of the principal chemists and
druggists, when it was stated that it would result in the supply in the future of
a cream of tartar entirely free from lead. He now learns that the supply of
the pure article is abundant and that there is no further excuse for the sale of
the adulterated article.
Legal.—The case of McNair v. Cave, heard in the High Court, is of
importance from having definitely decided that it is not legal for an Inspector
to take samples for analysis under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, outside
his own district, and that the words "places of delivery" in Section 3 of the
Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1879, must be construed as meaning "places of
delivery within the district of a Sanitary Authority in connection with which
the Inspector taking the samples has been appointed." This has been the
view held by your Medical Officer of Health for many years, and consequently
he has refrained from obtaining samples of Milk consigned to Islington at
King's Cross and St. Pancras Railway Stations, although he would often had
done so if he thought the Inspector possessed the legal right. The result of
the decision is that the Sanitary Authorities are now seeking to arrange
a method between themselves by which one authority will procure samples for
another authority at the railway stations. The Public Health Committee of
this borough has signified their willingness to assist other authorities in this
way.
P