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56
SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS AND THE
MARGARINE ACTS.
The total number of samples taken during the year was 799.
The samples principally comprised Milk and Butter, which show
a rather higher per centage of adulteration than last year. In my
opinion the method adopted in this parish of each Sanitary
Inspector taking samples in his own "Ward is far from satisfactory.
I am disposed to think that, owing to the care and attention needed
for this special work, the ordinary Ward Inspector, with his multifarious
duties, is unable for want of time to discover the traders
who find it profitable to systematically adulterate. We prosecute
as a rule the little shopkeeper in the back street who is simply
found with the adulterated article in his possession, and who is in
many cases, I believe, utterly guiltless of any fraudulent intent.
We have it on the best authority that a large amount of adulteration
is carried on in this parish by some large shopkeepers, which,
with the present system of taking samples we do not appear to be
able to prevent. I have held for long time past that the only
satisfactory way of working these Acts is to appoint an Inspector
specially for the purpose.