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
Kensington 1923
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington Borough]
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| Article Analysed. | Nature and Amount of Adulteration. | Action taken. |
|---|---|---|
| Sausages | 14.994 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Sausages | 13.881 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Sausages | 12.768 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Sausages | 16.856 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Sausages | 13.881 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Sausages | 11.102 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Sausages | 10.759 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Sausages | 6.531 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Sponge Cake | 16.730 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Informal sample |
| Sponge Cake | 5.950 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Informal sample |
| Sponge Cake | 18.718 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Proceedings. Summons dismissed |
| Sponge Cake | 18.466 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Proceedings. Summons withdrawn |
| Sponge Cake | 15.491 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Proceedings. Summons withdrawn |
| Sponge Cake | 7.385 grains of Boric Acid per pound | No action |
| Sponge Cake | 19.586 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Proceedings. Fined £2 and 21s. costs |
| Sponge Cake | 5.131 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Vendor cautioned |
| Tripe | 5.572 grains of Boric Acid per pound | Informal sample |
| Vinegar | 1.5 per cent. of required Acetic Acid deficient | Informal sample |
| Vinegar | 6 per cent. of the required Acetic Acid deficient | Informal sample |
| Vinegar | 4 per cent. of the required Acetic Acid deficient | No action |
| Whisky | 45.7 degrees under proof | Proceedings. No conviction but ordered to pay £2 2s. costs |
| Wood Vinegar | 2.5 per cent. of the required Acetic Acid deficient | Vendor cautioned |
It will be seen that proceedings were taken in twenty-two cases, the fines and costs amounting
to £56 Os. 6d.
COMPOSITION OF MILK SUPPLIED IN KENSINGTON.
It is well known that the "limits" of 3 per cent. of fat and 8.5 per cent. of non-fatty solids,
which are taken by the Ministry of Agriculture as the primary criteria of genuineness of milk, are
figures very much below those found in normal cow's milk.
The following may be taken as the average composition of cow's milk :—
Water 87.4 per cent.
Fat 3.7 „ „
Non-fatty solids 8.9 „ „
Of 253 formal samples of milk taken under the Food and Drugs Act in 1923, only 6 were
certified by the Public Analyst as adulterated, i.e., containing less than 3 per cent. of fat or 8.5
of non-fatty solids. These particulars, however, do not give any indication of the general quality of
the milk supplied in Kensington, therefore, it will be interesting to note the average composition of
the samples taken in the Borough during the year. These figures are given in the following
table:—