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55
experience I propose to set before you, thus bringing our knowledge
of the operations of the warranty defence in London up
to the end of the year 1917, which, together with the facts
given in my previous report, will constitute a record of eight
years' London experience. I have only been able to obtain
this information for the whole of London by receiving the
cordial help of all the Medical Officers of the Health of the
London Boroughs, for which co-operation, I gratefully tender
my earnest thanks.
In addition to the facts recorded in my last report, I have
obtained information as to the extent and result of the pleading of
warranties in London prosecutions during the years 1915, 1916 and
1917. This information I have arranged as in my last report,
under the following heads :—
(1) Number of summonses taken out under the Sale of
Food and Drugs Acts during the respective years 1915, 1916
and 1917.
(2) Number of convictions obtained during the same
years.
(3) Number of instances in which the production of a
warranty by the defendant was successfully used as a defence.
(4) Number of cases where the warrantor had been prosecuted,
with results. During the three years in question,
3,244 summonses were issued in London against vendors under
the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, of which no less than 592
were dismissed owing to warranties being produced and proved,
by the defendants. This amounts to over 18 per cent. of the
total summonses.
During the five previous years ending 1915, 12 per cent. of
the total summonses were dismissed owing to the same cause.