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
Camberwell 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
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Merchandise Marks Act, 1926.
Orders in Council under Section 2 of the Act of 1926 have
been made prohibiting the sale or exposure for sale in the United
Kingdom of imported goods such as honey, fresh apples, currants,
sultanas, eggs, tomatoes, butter, bacon, ham, poultry, chilled
beef, frozen mutton, and pork, frozen and chilled salmon, sea
trout, unless such goods have an indication of the country of origin.
It is satisfactory to report that traders in the Borough are
carrying out the requirements of these Orders.
Frequent inspections were made throughout the year to ensure
that the requirements of these Orders were being observed. Verbal
and written cautions were given where necessary. Proceedings were
taken against one retailer for failing to mark a sample of imported
butter with a declaration of the country of origin. The defendant
was ordered to pay 10s. 6d. costs.
Public Health (Preservatives in Food, etc.) Regulations,
1925-1927.
All food samples were examined by the Public Analyst for
any contravention of these Regulations, and 7 were found to
contain proportions of preservatives contrary to the standards as
follows:—
Raspberry Jam.
Two samples of raspberry jam, Nos. 163 and 202 were found
to contain 39 and 45 parts respectively, of sulphur dioxide, above
the maximum amount allowed. Proceedings were taken in both
cases against the manufacturer. See Table "B."
Arrowroot.
A sample of arrowroot was found to contain a prohibited
preservative, viz., boric acid to the extent of 3.75 per cent.
Proceedings were taken — see Table "B."
Beef Sausages.
Four samples Nos. 248, 290, 358 and 782 were reported as
containing respectively 98, 338, 91 and 110 parts of sulphur dioxide
per million. The amounts in each instance were below the maximum
amount allowed, viz., 450 parts per million, but were sold without
notice to the purchaser of the presence of a preservative. The
Public Health Committee directed that in three cases cautions in
writing be administered, and in the other (No. 290) proceedings be
taken (see Table "B").
TABLE "A." Formal and Informal Samples submitted for Analysis for the year ended December 31st, 1036.
| Article. | Number Examined. | Number Adulterated, etc. | Percentage of Adulteration. | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal. | Informal. | Private. | Total. | Formal. | Informal. | Private. | Total. | Formal. | Informal. | |
| Milk | 574 | 2 | – | 576 | 12 | – | – | 12 | 2.09 | – |
| Butter | 71 | 1 | – | 72 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Vinegar | 49 | 4 | – | 53 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 2.04 | – |
| Lard | 40 | – | – | 40 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Malt Vinegar | 37 | – | – | 37 | 4 | – | – | 4 | 10.81 | – |
| Self-Raising Flour | 22 | 1 | – | 23 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dripping | 18 | – | – | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Margarine | 17 | 1 | – | 18 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| White Pepper | 11 | 1 | – | 12 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cocoa | 11 | – | – | 11 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Custard Powder | 11 | – | – | 11 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cornflour | 10 | – | – | 10 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cream | 8 | – | – | 8 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Raspberry Jam | 7 | 1 | – | 8 | 4 | – | – | 4 | 57.14 | – |
| Whiskey | 6 | 3 | – | 9 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Beef Sausages | 6 | – | – | 6 | 4 | – | – | 4 | 66.66 | – |
| Lemonade Powder | 6 | – | – | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sultanas | 6 | – | – | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ground Almonds | 5 | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Arrowroot | 5 | – | – | 5 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 20.00 | – |
| Tea | 5 | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fishpaste | 5 | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Camphorated Oil | 5 | 1 | – | 6 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Brawn | 5 | – | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Condensed Full Cream Milk, sweetened | 4 | – | – | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Preserved Sausages | 4 | – | – | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Coffee | 4 | – | – | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tincture of Iodine | 4 | 1 | – | 5 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lemon Curd, and Cheese | 3 | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Strawberry Jam | 3 | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sherbet | 3 | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Crushed Linseed | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Boric Acid Ointment | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Citrate of Magnesia | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Prescription | 2 | – | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 50.00 | – |
| Glauber Salts | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ground Ginger | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Flour | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sponge Mixture | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Rice | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Blackcurrant Jam | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Dutch Cheese | 2 | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Curry Powder | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tomato Sauce | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Ketchup | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gravy Essence | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Minced Meat | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Raisin Wine | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Plum Jam | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Apricot Jam | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lemon Squash | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Table Jelly | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fruit Treacle | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pearl Barley | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mustard | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Sage | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Barbadoes Raw Soft Sugar | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Desiccated Cocoanut | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Baking Powder | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Confectionery | 1 | 3 | – | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pork Sausages | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Veal Loaf | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Egg (Substitute) Powder | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Mincemeat (Fruit) | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Full Cream Dried Milk | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Cream of Tartar | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Epsom Salts | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Gin | 1 | 2 | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tinned Sild | – | 18 | – | 18 | – | 8 | – | 8 | – | 44.44 |
| Rum | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Tinned Fruit (Mandarin Oranges) | – | 3 | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 1013 | 46 | – | 1059 | 27 | 8 | – | 35 | 2.66 | 17.39 | |