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
Hampstead 1908
Report for the year 1908 of the Medical Officer of Health
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The following table shows the articles of which samples were taken during the year, and the number found to be adulterated or of low quality:—
| Article. | No. Taken. | Adulterated. | Low Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ale | 3 | — | — |
| Butter | 63 | 2 | — |
| Camphorated Oil | 3 | — | — |
| Cheese | 15 | — | — |
| Cocoa | 6 | — | — |
| Coffee | 15 | 1 | — |
| Distilled Water | 3 | 1 | — |
| Golden Syrup | 2 | — | — |
| Gregory's Powder | 4 | — | — |
| Iodine, Liniment of | 2 | — | — |
| Jam | 9 | — | — |
| Kidneys (Pigs) | 2 | — | — |
| Lard | 11 | — | — |
| Lemon Squash | 2 | — | — |
| Lime Water | 3 | — | — |
| Margarine | 13 | — | — |
| Milk | 331 | 11 | 11 |
| Olive Oil | 2 | — | — |
| Pork Pie | 1 | — | — |
| Rum | 1 | — | — |
| Sweets | 5 | — | — |
| Tea | 2 | — | — |
| Tripe | 7 | 3 | — |
| Vinegar | 2 | — | — |
| Whiskey | 1 | — | — |
| Totals | 508 | 18 | 11 |
The following table shows the number of samples analysed during each year, from 1902 to 1908, the number and percentage of the adultered samples, and the fines and costs recovered in legal proceedings:—
| Year. | Samples analysed. | Number adulterated. | Percentage adulterated. | Fines and costs. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d. | ||||
| 1902 | 315 | 15 | 4.7 | 42 | 7 | 6 |
| 1903 | 366 | 14 | 3.8 | 37 | 3 | 0 |
| 1904 | 406 | 8 | 1.9 | 35 | 8 | 6 |
| 1905 | 414 | 8 | 1.9 | 33 | 15 | 0 |
| 1906 | 413 | 20 | 4.8 | 50 | 8 | 6 |
| 1907 | 407 | 36 | 8.8 | 49 | 18 | 6 |
| 1908 | 508 | 18 | 3.5 | 12 | 1 | 0 |