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that may call for action in this respect. In addition, special
samples, 100 in number, are taken in the evening or on Sundays
at irregular and unusual hours.
The total number of milk samples taken was 365, of which
33, or 9 per cent., were found to be adulterated. The percentage
of adulterated samples in previous years is given in the attached
table.
With the exception of 1908, the percentage of adulterated
samples for the present year is the lowest since 1899, the first year
for which this record is available. After the Public Analyst has
reported on a sample of food taken for analysis, if the analysis
shows the sample to be genuine, this fact is communicated to the
vendor. If, on the other hand, the sample is found to be adulterated,
further action depends on the amount of the adulteration
and the circumstances of the sale and the exposure for sale.
These considerations are gone into carefully by the Medical
Officer and the Inspector, and ocasionally, but only rarely, when
the circumstances or the slight amount of the adulteration
warrant the procedure, the vendor may be asked to furnish an
explanation, if he would wish to adopt this course.
If the adulteration is very small in amount, the vendor is
usually warned and cautioned.
If the adulteration is gross, a prosecution is instituted.
If the case is a difficult one, the details are referred to Mr.
Ricketts, Solicitor to the Council, and his advice is followed.
All milk dealers in the Borough, large as well as small, are
sampled.
The accompanying table gives the statistics for the last 11
years.