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
Bethnal Green 1914
Report on the sanitary condition and vital statistics during the year 1914 together with the report of the Chief Sanitary Inspector
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APPENDIX E (4).
Summary of samples taken informally and submitted
to the Public Analyst during 1914:—
Samples taken on Delivery.
The undermentioned samples were taken on delivery from wholesale firms delivering good to retail tradesmen, etc., throughout the Borough:-
| Article. | No. of Samples Taken. | Genuine. | Adulterated. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 48 | 45 | 4 |
| Vinegar | 2 | — | 2 |
The samples of mineral waters were purchased in
consequence of a complaint to the effect that a bottle
of lemonade purchased at a certain shop caused the
illness of the purchaser. The Public Analyst reported
thus upon the portion remaining unconsumed
" This had been put into a dirty bottle, the
cork of which smelt of carbolic acid; some Epsom
Salts had been previously in the bottle; a trace of
this was left. The liquid was not in any way
injurious to health."
Of the other samples of mineral waters above
mentioned, four were normal and two were reported to
contain harmless minute traces of metallic contamination,
probably derived from the apparatus used in
making. In these cases the makers were warned.
Thirty samples of margarine were purchased to
ascertain whether the formalities prescribed by the
Margarine Act were complied with. In three cases this
was not so; the vendors were later dealt with on the
taking of official samples.