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83
Condensed Milk.
During a routine inspection of tinned goods at a depot in this Borough the abnormal condition
of certain condensed milk was noticed.
An examination of the samples showed the tins to be clean, sound and without indication of
"blowing." On opening the contents were found to be practically solid and of a coffee colour, the
taste and smell appearing to be normal.
Enquiry of the manufacturers elicited the following information.
" Darkening and Solidification are physical changes due to rather long storage, the labels
on the tins indicated that they were three to four years old.
" Darkening is due to complex changes not fully understood, probably a condensation
of the sugar molecules with an aldehyde group in the protein, the process being akin to humi-
fication.
" Solidification is due to the swelling of the particles of casein, hydration."
The condensed milk was not considered to be unfit for human consumption, but the manufacturers
prefer to withdraw such articles and replace them.
THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ACT, 1933
THE POISONS RULES, 1935
The sale of poisonous substances is controlled under the provisions of this Act and every trader
who is not a registered pharmacist and who sells or desires to sell by retail to the general public, or
to persons in certain occupations, any of the poisons or poisonous substances included in Part II of
the Poisons List is required to have his name entered in the List of Persons entitled to sell such
poisons, kept by the Local Authority of the district in which his premises are situate.
Poisons scheduled in Part II of the Poisons List comprise articles which are in common use for
purposes other than the treatment of human ailments and include, inter alia, ammonia; certain forms
of arsenic; barium carbonate (for the destruction of vermin only); hydrochloric acid; nitric acid;
phenols; hair dyes; potassium hydroxide; potassium quadroxalate; sodium hydroxide and sulphuric
acid.
The Act and Rules lay down certain requirements regarding types of container, labelling,
storage, transport and sale of poisons. Penalties are prescribed for non-compliance.
At the end of 1938, there were 95 names on the Council's Register of Listed Sellers of Part II
Poisons. Inspector Gammack made 169 visits to their premises during the year and purchased ten
samples for analysis, all of which were reported to be satisfactory.