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29
Oysters Bill.
Mr. Chaplin's Oysters Bill was abandoned towards the end
of the session. It was a Bill entitled, " An Act for the Protection
of Public Health against Dangers arising from the
Consumption of Unwholesome Oysters." It consisted of the
following clauses :—
1. Inspection of oyster layings, and prohibition of
removal from insanitary layings.
2. Penalties and procedure.
3. Power of Local Government Board to act in default
of local authority.
4. Inquiries and expenses.
5. Definition of oyster laying.
6. Importation of oysters.
7. Application to Scotland.
8. Application to Ireland.
9. Short title and commencement.
The Bill was supported by Sir Richard Thorne Thorne,
Dr. Bulstrode, and others. It was opposed by Mr. Rayden,
Captain Austin, &c., the latter gentleman contending that the
Bill would ruin the oyster trade, partly because it would be in
the hands of medical officers of health, who knew nothing
about oysters.
Food Peeseevatives.
During the past year the Local Government Board
appointed a Departmental Committee, consisting of Sir
Herbert Maxwell (chairman), Professor Thorpe, Dr. H. J. Bulstrode,
and Dr. Tunnicliffe, to investigate and report upon the
use of preservatives in connection with perishable articles of
food. The Committee has not yet concluded its labours.
With regard to the above question, an interesting historic
record of the practice of employing preservatives and colouring
matters in food, appeared in a recent issue of the Lancet.
Various methods of preserving and colouring articles of food
are traced back for nearly half a century, when in 1851 the
Analytical Sanitary Commission of the Lancet started its
remarkable crusade against the adulterations of food. The
first methods resorted to were necessarily clumsy and often
highly injurious, Thus, chromate of lead and red ochre were