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94
the part of native employees in the works. None of those
submitted to me contained sand.
Three table jellies were certified to be genuine. One was
sold as "jelly cream" and was said to contain milk.
Apparently some milk was present, but only sufficient to
give the jelly a slight opalescence.
Two specimens of sweets sold as "Bubbly Gums" and
"Bobby Gums" were free from injurious constituents and
so were reported genuine. They were submitted for analysis
following complaints that they had caused sore throat in
children. They were sweets of the chewing gum type and
directions on the wrappers were given to the effect that
after all the sugary material had been chewed out of them
the residual gum could be used for blowing bubbles by
pressing against the teeth and blowing air into it. This
absurd proceeding seems to have attracted children sufficiently
to lead to a rather brisk sale of the sweets.
According to my information the children pass the gum
from one to another; hence, although there is nothing in
the sweets themselves to cause sore throat, the disgusting
and dangerous use to which they are put is quite sufficient
to propagate much more serious diseases.
Cordials, Wines, Spirits, &c.
Four fruit cordials, one ginger wine essence, two
lemonade powders, one orangeade powder, and one nonalcoholic
raisin wine were genuine, but of eleven whiskies
two were adulterated. The latter had strengths of 40.64
and 37.65 degrees under proof, whereas the Act requires
spirits to be not more than 35 degrees under proof. The
proof strengths reported indicate that the samples were
whisky of the minimum legal strength to which had been
added approximately 9 per cent. of water in the one case
and 4 per cent. in the other. Proceedings in respect of
these resulted in fines and costs totalling £4 2s. 0d. being
imposed.