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Committee deemed it advisable to support their case by the evidence of experts in various bi anches
of the medical profession. Six medical men were accordingly approached. Of this number, one,
how was an eminent physiologist, was strongly of the opinion that lime juice containing salicylic
acid in the quantities certified would be injuiious to health. A no less eminent pharmacologist and
physician expressed a diametrically opposite view. The four remaining experts were also unwilling
to make any positive statement as to injury to health from the quantities of salicylic acid found in
the lime juice analysed. The proposal to proceed was accordingly abandoned, and the lesult or
lack of result serves to illustrate the highly unsatisfactory state of the existing law as to the use
of preservatives in food. The lime juice of the vendors in this instance is distributed throughout
the country, the fact that it contains salicylic acid is well known, and yet the 1 ecommendation of
the Departmental Committee is ignored, and the heavy expense of conducting a highly technical
test case is left to any authority among the many hundreds concerned that may be sufficiently
altruistic to settle an issue which is not local, and which should therefore be determined by a
Government Department in the interests of the whole community.
Margarine and Butter Substitutes.—Under Section 9 of the Margarine Act, 1887, and
Section 7 (4) of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, manufacturers and wholesale dealers in
margarine and margarine cheese are required to register their premises with the local authority.
Bv Section 1 (1) of the Butter and Margarine Act, 1907, these requirements were extended to butter
factories and to the premises of wholesale dealers in milk-blended butter. The following premises
in the Borough are registered in accordance with the requirements of the above Acts:—
Lipton, Ltd. 210, Portobello Road.
„ 129, Bronipton Road.
E. C. Nicholls 19, Church Street.
C. E. Webb & Sons 39-41, Brompton Road.
Pearks, Ltd. 165, Portobello Road.
The above premises have been registered as those of wholesale dealers in margarine. The
premises of Pearks, Ltd., have also been registered as those of wholesale dealers in mixtures of
butter and milk.
WATER SUPPLY.
The water supply of Kensington is derived from the following sources, which are under the
control of the Metropolitan Water Board.
The northern half of the Borough lies within the Grand Junction division of the Western
district, which is supplied mainly from the Thames at Hampton. The southern half of the Borough
and a small area north of the Great Western Railway are supplied from the same source, and lie
within the West Middlesex division of the Western district. The area south of the Brompton Road
lies within the Chelsea division of the Western district, and is supplied entirely from the Thames
at West Molesey. To every house in the Borough the water supply is now constant.
Water Supply to New Houses.—During the year 53 newly erected houses were inspected and
certified before occupation under Section 48 (2) of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, as having
a proper and sufficient supply of water.
Legal Proceedings.—In two cases proceedings were instituted against persons who had failed to
provide a proper and sufficient water supply on their premises. In each instance a Closing Order
was made, the same to become operative in the event of the premises not having been provided
with a proper supply of water within seven days. Water having been provided in both cases within
the time specified, the Closing Orders were not enforced.