London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Camberwell 1920
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
This page requires JavaScript
39; milk, 10; whisky, 2; and 1 each of rum, dripping, dried eggs,
mustard and preserved peas.
"Of these, 3 were found to be adulterated, the 2 whiskies and 1
milk."-Inspector Dewey's Report.
As this method of sampling is still carried out it will be interesting
to see at the end of 1921, if conditions approach nearer to the
normal, whether the results of informal sampling show an improvement
on the above.
The total number of official milk samples taken during the year
was 637, and of these 19 were found to be adulterated, giving a
percentage of 2.8, compared with 6.9 in 1919 and 11.7 in 1918.
The total of adulterated samples among the 1,115 taken was 54.
The following articles were reported against.
Samples
taken.
Adulterated.
Remarks.
Article.
19
637
18 Summonses and 1 caution.
Milk
77
12
12 Summonses.
Malt and Wood Vinegars
Cocoa
47
1
1 Summons.
Mustard
34
2
1 Summons.
2 Summonses.
Camphorated Oil
30
3
Shredded Suet
4
4
3 Summonses.
2 Summonses.
3
Whisky
3
1 Summons.
Coffee
26
1
11 Unstamped
Wrappers.
10 Summonses.
Margarine (Unstamped
Wrappers)
14
-
50 Summonses.
It is gratifying to be able to report that milkmen were in two
instances sent to prison. With the present high price of milk it is
more and more profitable to risk the chance of an occasional fine,
trusting to an addition of water or abstraction of cream to more
than make it good, and I feel sure that prison will be the only
effective means of convincing some offenders that adulteration is
best left alone.
PUBLIC HEALTH (MILK AND CREAM) REGULATIONS, 1912/17.
Seven samples of cream were purchased and submitted to the Public Analyst
during the year ending December 31st, 1920, and are set out as required by the
Ministry of Health.
(1) Milk and Cream not sold as Preserved Cream.
Number of samples examined
for the presence of a preservative.
Number in which preservatives were
reported to be present, and percentage
of preservative found in each sample.
Milk
Nil
558
3
5
Cream
Sample No. 98, Boric Acid 0.20 percent.
Sample No. 116, Boric Acid 0.16 percent.
Sample No. 161, Boric Acid 0.16 percent.
The following articles were reported against.
| Article. | Samples taken. | Adulterated. | Remarks. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 637 | 19 | 18 Summonses and 1 caution. |
| Malt and Wood Vinegars | 77 | 12 | 12 Summonses. |
| Cocoa | 47 | 1 | 1 Summons. |
| Mustard | 34 | 2 | 1 Summons. |
| Camphorated Oil | 30 | 3 | 2 Summonses. |
| Shredded Suet | 4 | 4 | 3 Summonses. |
| Whisky | 3 | 3 | 2 Summonses. |
| Coffee | 26 | 1 | 1 Summons. |
| Margarine (Unstamped Wrappers) | 14 | 11 Unstamped Wrappers. | 10 Summonses. |
| – | |||
| 50 Summonses. |
(1) Milk and Cream not sold as Preserved Cream.
| Number of samples examined for the presence of a preservative. | Number in which preservatives were reported to be present, and percentage of preservative found in each sample. | |
| Milk | 558 | Nil |
| Cream | 5 | 3 |
| Sample No. 98, Boric Acid 0.20 percent. | ||
| Sample No. 116, Boric Acid 0.16 percent. | ||
| Sample No. 161, Boric Acid 0.16 percent. |