View report page

30
Of butter, 130 samples were taken, 124 being returned as genuine,
2 as of inferior quality, and 4 (3 per cent.) as adulterated. The 4
adulterated samples were all purchased at one shop at short invervals of
time, and were all certified to be margarine. The vendor was prosecuted
and fined £3 and 10s. 6d. costs.
Of margarine, 9 samples were taken, 7 being genuine, whilst in
two cases the Public Analyst certified that the samples contained excess
of butter fat (12.5 per cent. excess and 8.5 per cent. excess). No
proceedings were taken in either of these cases. Of lard, 9 samples were
taken, all being genuine. Of whisky, 18 samples were taken, 15 being
genuine, and 3 adulterated. No proceedings were taken in these cases
(21.2 per cent. added water; 2.5 per cent. added water; 2.6 per cent.
added water), as notices of dilution were displayed at the places of sale
in accordance with the Act.
Of brandy, 9 samples were taken, all being genuine; of coffee, 11
samples, all genuine; of coffee and chicory mixtures, 15 samples, all
genuine; of cheese, 9 samples, all genuine; of cocoa, 9 samples, all
genuine; of mustard, 9 samples, all genuine. Ten samples of baking
powder were analysed, 9 being genuine, and one was stated to contain an
excess of calcium sulphate. Of two samples of cream analysed, one was
found to be genuine, and the other, which was analysed for a private
purchaser, was stated to contain 22.8 grains of boric acid per pint.
Water Supply.
From the reports of Dr. Houston, Director of Water Examinations,
Metropolitan Water Board, it appears that for the year ending 30th
November, 191], on an average the number of samples of Chelsea
filtered water yielding negative results as regards typical Bacillus Coli
(the common intestinal micro-organism), was 90 per cent., when 100 c.c.
of water are taken as the basis of bacterioscopic examination, the corresponding
figure for the previous year being 92. The worst months of the
year were January (27 per cent. of the samples gave a positive result as
regards B. Coli), and December (21 per cent. gave positive results); and
the best month was April, when all the examples examined proved
negative to the B. Coli test.
The results, as regards the Chelsea water, are quite equal to those
given by any of the other filtered waters of the Thames, but are suggestive
of the excretal pollutions the Thames is liable to as a source of
supply of drinking water. In a water which is perfectly unpolluted by
sewage or excremental bacteria, typical Bacillus Coli should be invariably
absent from every 100 c.c. of water examined.
REPORTS PRESENTED TO THE BOROUGH COUNCIL.
5th April. The compulsory notification of all cases of Tuberculosis.