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
Bethnal Green 1912
Report on the sanitary condition and vital statistics during the year 1912 together with the report of the Chief Sanitary Inspector
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33
APPENDIX E. (5).
Samples of Foods and Drugs taken informally for information :—
| Article. | Total Samples Taken. | Genuine. See below (*) | Adulterated. See below (†) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 23 | 19 | 4 |
| Lard | 14 | 14 | - |
| Margarine | 6 | 6 | - |
| Flour | 3 | 3 | - |
| Butter | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Cotton-seed Oil | 1 | 1 | - |
| Oatmeal | 1 | 1 | - |
| Extract of Meat | 1 | - | 1 |
| " Romo " (Margarine) | 1 | 1 | - |
| " Pearksown " (Milk-blended Butter) | 1 | 1 | - |
| Nut Lard | 1 | 1 | - |
| Nut Margarine | 1 | 1 | - |
| Totals | 56 | 49 | 7 |
* Or preservatised to very slight extent or answering trade description.
† Or preservatised, or differing from trade description, to such an extent
that if purchased officially would warrant prosecution.
The sample of extract of meat was taken from a
quantity of tins which were being hawked ; it was
certified to consist mainly of boiled wheaten flour mixed
with a little meat extract and much salt; it had lost all
its flavour except that of salt and was useless as a food;
it could not be termed injurious to health ; the vendor
was cautioned and the sale of this stuff ceased.
The fourteen samples of lard were purchased
following a letter from the Board of Agriculture giving