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76
"It is our opinion that any attempt to control by Statute
statements about the composition of food will be stultified
unless it is legally enacted that, for the purpose of evidence
as to the nature, quality and substance demanded of a food,
specific claims made in advertisements shall be deemed to
be part of the package label. Though it is theoretically true
that the purchaser is expected to examine the label of a
product before he completes its purchase, it is a matter of
common knowledge that the vast majority of purchasers
do not do so. The description on which they have been
induced to buy the product is in a large number of cases
only that contained in the advertisements, and we hold
very strongly that progress in the standardisation and
description of food will be seriously hampered until this
matter is dealt with."
Presumably any alteration in the law will be by amendment
of the Food and Drugs (Adulteration) Act and will
apply to both food and drugs.
Legislation along the lines recommended should go a long
way to protect the public and prevent their exploitation.
PREVALENCE OF, AND CONTROL OVER
INFECTIOUS DISEASES.
Infectious Diseases.—There were, omitting tuberculosis,
1,861 cases reported as due to notifiable infectious
diseases in the Borough, against 1.827 in the previous year.
There were also reported 1,606 cases of infectious diseases
that were not notifiable, against 618 in the previous year;
1,334 of these were Measles, and 272 Whooping Cough.
The number of cases of Tuberculosis notified was 215
against 216 in the previous year.