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189
I am instructed, therefore, by them to inform you that in
all cases in which this or suchlike preservative is found on
analysis to be present, proceedings will be taken against the
vendors.
G. Quin Lennane,
Medical Officer of Health.
This procedure appears to have been followed by satisfactory
results. There can be no doubt that the use of boric acid in
sausages is harmful per se, giving rise to tonic effects in those
persons especially who are sensitive to its effects. Apart from
this, the use of this drug as a so-called preservative in food such
as sausages, by delaying putrefaction, and masking its effects,
permits meat being used in this way which would otherwise be
unsaleable, or, in the words so admirably expressed by the learned
Magistrate, prevents it becoming "wholesomely bad." There is
no necessity to use boric acid or other preservative in sausages.
If these are prepared under cleanly conditions, they will keep in
cold storage for severaJ days. The action of the Committee in
warning those who are in the habit of using these so-oalled preservatives
in food (an unnecessary proceeding, and one, moreover,
in my opinion, likely to give rise to injury to health), that proceedings
will be taken against such persons should be effective in
stopping the practice in the Borough.
Coffee and Cocoa.
Twenty-eight samples of coffee were taken and submitted for
analysis, all of which were reported to be genuine, and four
samples of cocoa were taken and similarly dealt with, but all were
returned by the Analyst as being genuine.
Other Articles.
Lard, 6 ; arrowroot, 3 ; olive oil, 4 ; oatmeal, 3 ; spirits, 2 ;
camphorated oil, 6; preserved vegetables, 2 (1 adulterated, but
no proceedings taken, amount of adulteration—copper sulphate—
being too small) ; cheese, 3 (1 of which was deficient in fat—no
proceedings) ; vinegar 10 (1 adulterated, 26 per cent, water, fine
20s. and 14s. 6d. costs) ; mustard, 4 ; pepper, 4 ; making a total
of 47.