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The marked decrease in the percentage of adulteration of samples taken during
delivery, is, in a large measure, accounted for by reason of 36 of 41 samples which
were taken at the railway stations with a view of ascertaining the standard of milk
reaching the metropolis, being declared to be genuine and well up to the Local
Government Board standard. Of the five other samples, two were sophisticated, and
were both obtained from wholesale milkmen in the act of delivery to the retailers, both
of whom had been found to be selling impure milk. The wholesale dealers in each
instance were summoned to appear before the Justices: one escaped heavy penalties by
reason of his having provided himself with a warranty given to him by the farmer who
supplied him with milk. This warranty he failed to establish, but meanwhile he had
solicited the assistance of the Borough of Bermondsey, in which district the place to
which the milk was consigned was situate—viz.: London Bridge Station. The
Bermondsey Borough Council caused a sample of milk to be taken at this station,
which was found on analysis to be adulterated with added water. The magistrate
subsequently took a lenient view of the case and only imposed the nominal fine of
1s. and 2/. 28. costs.
At a later date, the Bermondsey authorities prosecuted this farmer for the offence
above mentioned, but the character of the farmer being good, and the past record of
the milk dealer being notoriously bad, and the fact being also proved that the milk
dealer was at the station before the sample was obtained by the Inspector and had
access to the milk prior to the sample being taken, the case against the farmer was
dismissed.
In the case of the other defaulter, the magistrate imposed a fine of 20s. and 21s.
expenses.
BUTTER.
563 samples of butter were taken, of which 12, or 2.1 per cent., were certified as being
adulterated.