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The addition of preservatives to milk has been prohibited throughout the country since 1912
and the instances reported above are the first contraventions discovered in Kensington for many
years. Two of the samples were taken the same day from different vendors, but subsequent
enquiries revealed that the vendor of one had been supplied by the vendor of the other. Two days
later another sample was obtained from the latter vendor and this was also found to contain
formaldehyde. On this occasion the sampling officer inspected the premises and found a bottle
containing fluid which upon analysis proved to be a solution of formaldehyde. The proceedings
taken are indicated above.
The Public Health (Condensed Milk) Regulations, 1923-27, and the Public Health (Dried Milk)
Regulations, 1923-27.—During the year, nine samples of condensed milk were taken, and each was
found to comply with the regulations in every respect. No samples of dried milk were examined.
Food Poisonimg.—Section 7 of the London County Council (General Powers) Act, 1932, requires
every doctor in London to notify the medical officer of health of any person whom he suspects or
finds to be suffering from food poisoning. During the year, 490 cases were notified in London.
The number notified in Kensington was 23 ; there were 15 in the Golborne ward, six in the
St. Charles ward, and two in the Norland ward. It will be observed that all the Kensington cases
occurred in the northern part of the borough, where the majority of the poorer residents live. Not
a single case was reported from South Kensington.
An analysis was made of the foods suspected of causing the illness in the notified cases, and
resulted as follows :—
Food causing illness. No. of cases.
Egg 1
Fish 6
Fish paste 2
Ham 2
Ham, tinned 1
Ice-cream 1
Meat pie 1
Pork and pork preparations 5
Pressed beef 1
Salmon, tinned 1
Sausages 1
Saveloy . 1
It is also worthy of mention that in every case the illness was a mild one, and the patient
recovered in a day or two.
There was no outbreak of food poisoning in the borough and many of the cases notified must
be regarded as suspicious rather than as actual cases of food poisoning.
Pharmacy and Poisons Act, 1933.—This Act which has for its object the closer control over the
sale of poisons and poisonous substances than was formerly the case, was passed in 1933 to come
into operation on the " appointed day." An Order in Council, dated 6th June, 1935, fixes this day
as 1st January, 1936, in respect of certain provisions and 1st May following in respect of the
remainder. The Act prescribes the preparation by a Poisons Board of a poisons list divided into
two parts and called part 1 and part 2. Part 1 contains the names of those poisons usually known
as deadly and which in future may be sold only by registered pharmacists, and part 2 contains those
commonly in use for domestic, horticultural, agricultural and sanitary purposes and which may be
sold not only by registered pharmacists but also by traders whose names are entered in a local
authority's list of persons entitled to sell such poisons. The Act also provides that rules must be
made by the Secretary of State ; these rules have been made and come into operation on the
1st May, 1936.
It will be the duty of the council to enforce the new requirements so far as they relate to the
sale of part 2 poisons and for this purpose they have appointed the medical officer of health, the
deputy medical officer of health and the food inspector as inspectors under the Act.