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
Hammersmith 1926
Annual report of the Medical Officer of Health of the Borough of Hammersmith for the year 1926
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59
Milk.—During the year 315 samples of milk were examined,
and of these, 285 were reported as genuine, 24 as inferior,
and 6 as adulterated. Four samples were taken in course of
delivery by the Inspector for the Borough of Kensington,
following instructions from the vendor of a milk which had
been reported as adulterated. These were found to be quite
different in composition from that of the adulterated sample
and were all reported genuine. In addition to the above
one separated and one skimmed milk were passed as genuine.
The following Table shows the nature and extent of the
adulteration:—
Table III.
| No. | Adulteration Certified. | Penalties Imposed. |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fat abstracted 35 per cent. | £5 0 0 fine and 10s. 6d. costs. |
| 2 | „ „ 24 „ „ | £2 0 0 „ ., 30s. 6d. costs. |
| 3 | „ „ 14 „ „ | £2 0 0 „ „ 10s. 6d. costs. |
| 4 | „ „ 5 „ „ | Vendor warned. |
| 5 | Added Water 2 „ „ | „ „ |
| 6 | „ „ 1 „ „ | No action—adulteration insufficient. |
The percentage of adulteration in the case of milk is 1.9
as compared with 1.7 last year.
The following Table gives the average composition of the
milk calculated on the total number of samples taken in the
Borough during the four quarters of the year:—
Table IV.
| Fat. | Non-fatty Solids. | Water. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per cent. | Per cent. | Per cent. | |
| Quarter ending March 31st | 3.54 | 8.86 | 87.60 |
| „ ,, June 30th | 3.75 | 8.87 | 87.58 |
| „ „ Sept. 30th | 3.79 | 8.98 | 87.23 |
| „ „ Dec. 31st | 3.86 | 8.97 | 87.17 |
| Average for the year | 3.68 | 8.92 | 87.40 |
Condensed Milk.—Nineteen condensed milks were specially
examined with a view to ascertaining whether or no they
somplied with the requirements of the new Regulations. They
were all found to fulfill these requirements, both in respect
of the amount of fat and non-fatty solids present and in
regard to the composition of the milk yielded on dilution to
the extent indicated on the labels of the tins.