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89
same yard and quite close, in which a vendor of cats meat carried
on the preparatory part of his business. The shed used by this
man contained a large quantity of margarine and there were as well,
scales for weighing and a slab evidently for the purpose of making
up the pats of " butter." The shed was in a very filthy condition.
Proceedings were taken against this man and fines and costs amounting
to £16 12s. Od. were imposed, previous convictions in an adjoining
Borough having been proved at the same time against
him.
Sausages.
Twenty-seven samples of sausages were taken and submitted
to the public analyst. Of these 27 samples 4 (i.e. 14.8 percent.)
were reported by the analyst to contain added preservative (boric
acid) in varying proportions from 4.95 grains per lb. to 13.63
grains per lb.
Owing to the action of the Council in giving notice to vendors
of sausages in cases in which adulteration was reported that proceedings
would follow, there is apparently a marked decrease in
the number of cases and in the amount of adulteration reported.
Thus in 1910, of 13 samples of sausages purchased for analysis
under the provisions of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, 7 (i.e.
54.0 per cent.) were found to be adulterated with boric acid, in
amounts varying from 7.42 grains per lb. to 29.79 grains per lb.
Although the number of samples taken in 1911 was more than
double those taken in the previous year, the percentage and amount
of adulterated reported by the analyst was found to be considerably
less. It is to be hoped that some official pronouncement will soon
be made with regard to the use of so-called preservatives in foods.
It is generally agreed by those best qualified to judge that their use
is a danger to the public health and should be prohibited in foods
intended for infants and invalids, and in other cases allowed only
under stringent regulations and with a declaration that the article of
food contains a preservative. In almost every article of food consumed
nowadays, one runs the risk of taking boric or salicylic acid or
other drugs, and in this way in the aggregate quite a large quantity of
drugs may be taken throughout the day, the cumulative action of
which may be productive of serious injury to health. It is shown
from the experience of many reputable firms who do not use these
so-called preservatives in their business, that their use is unnecessary
and that if proper and reasonable care is taken in the manufacture,
preparation and storage of perishable food stuffs, these will keep
for relatively long periods. As a general rule it may be inferred
that articles which it is found necessary to thus doctor, are of
inferior quality, and can only be safely exposed for sale, when
treated with antiseptics to prevent the incipient decomposition of