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152
Report of the Temporary Public Analyst,
Mr. Thomas McLachlan, A.C.G.F.C., F.I.C.
Before making any comments on the samples
examined during the past year I should like to
express my sympathy with the Council in the
death of Mr. William Partridge, so soon after his
appointment and following shortly after that of
the late Mr. C. H. Cribb. Mr. Partridge was
well-known in his profession as a most careful
analyst, who was ever willing to place his long
experience at the disposal of his colleagues, and
will be remembered for many years as the author
of two most useful little books "Aids to the
Analysis of Foods and Drugs" and "Aids to
Bacteriology."
During the year under review the percentage
of adulteration is very similar to that recorded in
previous years, a point which is of interest seeing
that the work has been carried out by different
analysts in different laboratories. It is sometimes
thought that the higher percentage of samples
reported as adulterated in one district as compared
with another is due to the personal idiosyncracies
of analysts, but it is usually found that a change
of analysts causes little alteration to the total
percentage of samples reported against, though it
will be noticed that individual analysts may stress
particular types of adulteration.
One sample of milk was thought to contain
dried milk powder made up with water but was
reported genuine, as it is difficult to state with
certainty whether dried milk has been added
when it has been mixed with fresh milk, and when
the milk powder has been prepared by the spray
process which does not destroy the natural chemical
properties of the milk. Two samples of milk
were found to have been treated with formaldehyde,
though vendors appreciate that it is illegal