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
Wandsworth 1918
Annual report on the health, sanitary condition, &c., of the Borough for the year1918
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97
Report oj the Medical Officer of Health
In every case the samples reported against were milks which had been taken with the formalities required by the Act. Below will be found the reasons for returning them as adulterated, together with the number of samples which were so returned:—
| Nature of adulteration. • | Number. |
|---|---|
| Containing extraneous water | 99 |
| Deficient in milk fat | 38 |
| Both offences | 12 • |
| Total | 149 |
The largest amount of extraneous water, namely, 46 per cent.,
was found in sample No. 88; whilst the greatest deficiency in milk
fat occurred in sample No. 395, which was returned as being 32
per cent, below the legal standard.
In no case was preservative found in any sample grouped
under the heading " Milk and Cream."
The nine Informal samples of Butter reported against contained
Margarine.
Of the 523 samples of Butter submitted, 31, or 5.9 per cent.,
were free from preservative other than common salt, whilst 492,
or 94.1 per cent., contained a Boron preservative. In no case,
however, did the quantity of this preservative exceed the maximum
amount permissible, namely, 0.5 per cent., calculated as crystallised
Boric Acid.
A Boron preservative was found in all of the 28 samples of
Margarine examined; and, as in the case of the Butters, the
quantity present never exceeded the permissible limit.
The four Informal samples of Cocoa reported against contained
an excess of shell, i.e., they exceeded the limit of 5 per cent,
prescribed by the Order then in force.