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
Deptford 1913
Annual report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Deptford
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162
Milk Warranty.
It has unfortunately become the practice of some Magistrates, in
cases where warranties have been proved in Court, to offer costs to the
defendant. Such a course is unusual, and is much to be deprecated.
If the Local Authority sets up a standard, below which it will take
legal proceedings, it cannot possibly know that the Dairyman has a
warranty, and if it did, it cannot possibly know that the Dairyman
will be able to prove his warranty in Court. In a case that recently
came before the Magistrates, the milk was sold to the Inspector by a
boy not directly employed by the firm but by the roundsman. It was
difficult before the hearing to see whether the firm could or would take
responsibility for the boy, but in Court, fortunately for their reputation,
they did. The boy's statement under oath that he had not tampered
with the milk satisfied the prosecution, and finally the case was dismissed
on the warranty, costs being offered the defendants.
It is to be hoped that Magistrates will carefully consider the difficulties
of the Authority in carrying out the provisions of the Food and Drugs
Acts, and not give costs where an offence has been committed by someone,
although the person immediately proceeded against is protected by
a warranty, which has to be proved.
Unsound Food.
The following quantities of food were, upon examination by officers of the Public Health Department, found to be unsound, unwholesome, and unfit for the food of man, and were destroyed:—
| Inspector. | Description of Food. | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|
| Mr. Snowdon ) ,, Kemp | 3 doz. Bananas | Voluntarily surrendered. |
| ,, Snowdon | 4 cwt. Herrings | ,, ,, |
| ,, ,, | 5½ stone Whiting | ,, ,, |
| ,, ,, | 1 bag Mussels | ,, ,, |
| ,, Kemp | 3 lbs. Tomatoes | ,, ,, |
| ,, Snowdon | 1 box Haddock | ,, ,, |
| ,, Simpson | 2 boxes Tomatoes | ,, ,, |
| ,, Snowdon | 1 bag Winkles | ,, ,, |
| ,, ,, | 1 trunk Mixed Fish .. | ,, ,, |
| ,, Simpson | 2 boxes Mackerel | ,, ,, |
| ,, Kemp | 1 bag Winkles | ,, ,, |
| ,, ,, | 6 lbs. Ribs Beef | ,, ,, |
| ,, ,, | 19 Crabs | ,, ,, |
| ,, Shelley | 1 box Mackerel | ,, ,, |
| ,, Priest | 1 box Kippers | ,, ,, |
| ,, Turner | 1 trunk Whiting | ,, ,, |
| ,, Simpson | 1 trunk Catfish | ,, ,, |
| ,, Snowdon | 6 lbs. Tomatoes | ,, ,, |
| ,, Shelley | 3 boxes Kippers | ,, ,, |
| ,, Hewett | 2 tins Salmon | ,, ,, |
| ,, Kemp | 6 baskets Strawberries | ,, ,, |
| ,, Simpson | 1 trunk mixed Fish .. | ,, ,, |
| ,, Priest | 3 lbs. Ham | ,, ,, |
| ,, Snowdon | Quantity of Mussels.. | ,, ,, |
| ,, ,, | 3 lbs. Pears | ,, ,, |
| ,, ,, | 3 cwt. Potatoes | ,, ,, |
| ,, Kemp | 1 box Coalfish | ,, ,, |