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36
in architectural fads. The three rooms at 10s. may be
most desirable, but what is the use of them to a man
whose wage is only 20s.? As well offer him a house in
Mayfair."
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
In the report of the Chief Inspector will be found full details of
all proceedings under the Public Health (London) Act, 1890, and
the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, 1875 to 1899. Recapitulation
by me is, therefore, unnecessary, and I merely call attention to the
value of the results obtained by Mr. Foot's efforts. The investigations
of the Chief Inspector have revealed the fact that an extensive
trade is being carried on in unsound tinned provisions. These
usually are condemned stores disposed of by the owners, ostensibly
for conversion into pig and poultry food. We have ascertained
that articles of this nature are purchased by dealers, who proceed
to prick the bulged tins and resolder them. The old label is then
washed off and a new one pasted on. In this state they are disposed
of to the keepers of small general shops, and to the manufacturers
of cheap confectionery.
Many mysterious illnesses are due to the consumption of food
which has undergone fermentation, and thereby developed poisonous
alkaloids known as "ptomaines." At a dinner held recently at
a well known London Hotel, a number of the guests were poisoned,
and the unfortunate occurrence was supposed to have been due to
some tinned apricots. There are several fatal cases of sardine
poisoning on record, and many cases of illness attributed to a similar
cause, so that the danger of eating unsound tinned food is well
known. I feel certain that any article of preserved food about
which there is any suspicion of unsoundness should be rejected. It
is, of course, impossible to form an accurate opinion as to the
contents of a tin of salmon or milk until it is opened, but the fact
of fermentation having commenced, as evidenced by the generation
of gas enough to cause bulging of the ends from internal pressure,
should be accepted as sufficient evidence of unsoundness, and the
sale of such "blown" tins should be prohibited.