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As a result the Chief Inspector visited the shop where the lemon
squash was bought and inspected the rest of the mineral waters
and other temperance drinks and seized in all 38 bottles of lemon
squash, ginger beer, ginger ale, cream soda, soda water, kaola
and lemonade.
These were certified by the Medical Officer of Health, as unfit
for human consumption, and later the evidence was submitted to
a Metropolitan magistrate, who gave an order for their destruction.
The makers were communicated with, and their representatives
attended a subsequent meeting of the Public Health Committee.
They expressed the opinion that in the case of the fish bone, the
bottle might possibly have been tampered with, and in some of
the other samples that they were probably aged.
They explained the method of inspection and washing employed
in the business and the routine associated with the re-issue of
returned bottles.
On the whole, it appeared rather doubtful whether the cleansing
and inspection could be satisfactorily performed under the conditions
said to be observed in the factory-the establishment,
however, lying in another borough was not visited by the Medical
Officer for Finsbury.
Five samples were sent to Dr. Foulerton, the Borough Bacteriologist,
who reported, in essence as follows:—
REPORT ON MINERAL WATERS.
Sample I. Lemon Squash.—The contents of this bottle
were turbid, and in addition to the effervescing drink included a
large piece of the back-bone of a fish, and a quantity of coarse
brown debris. The débris consisted of yeast cells, various