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
Battersea 1923
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1923
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| Examined. | Adulterated. | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nature of Sample. | Formal. | Informal. | Total. | Formal. | Informal. | Total. |
| Arrowroot | — | 4 | 4 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Brawn | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Coffee | 6 | — | 6 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Fish Paste | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Honey | — | 6 | 6 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Lard | — | 6 | 6 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Olive Oil | — | 5 | 5 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Pepper, White | — | 4 | 4 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Rice | — | 6 | 6 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Sausages | 6 | — | 6 | 1 | — | 1 |
| Sausage (Breakfast) | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Sausage (Luncheon) | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 31 | 47 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
Of the 32 samples of butter examined, 13 were found to be free
from any preservative other than common salt, whilst 19 contained
a boron preservative in quantities under 0.5 per cent.
The average content of boron preservative (in terms of crystallised
boric acid) contained in the 19 samples of butter reported as
genuine, which contained this preservative, amounted to 0.27 per
cent., equivalent to 18.9 grains per lb.
Of the 3 samples of cream examined 2 were reported against as containing a boron preservative expressed as crystallised boric acid in quantities as follows:—
| Case No. | Percentage of Boric Acid. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 924 | 0.36 | ||
| 925 | 0.33 | ||
| Of the 157 samples of milk examined, 10 were reported against, as follows:— | |||
| Case No. | Nature of Report. | Case No. | Nature of Report. |
| 746 | 13% extraneous water. | 813 | Coloured with Annatto. |
| 749 | 3% extraneous water. | 826 | 13% extraneous water. |
| 764 | 4% milk fat deficient. | 839 | 10% extraneous water. |
| 772 | 5% extraneous water. | 911 | Coloured with Annatto. |
| 773 | 6% extraneous water. | 930 | 7 % extraneous water. |
| The average composition of the 147 samples of Milk returned as genuine was as under:— | |||
| Total milk solids | % 12.48 | ||
| Milk fat | 3.64 | ||
| Solids not fat | 8.84 | ||