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exempt. Eggs preserved by immersion in lime water, water-glass or oil, would,
however, come within the operation of the section.
The Act also provides for premises used for cold or chemical storage of eggs
to be registered with the Local Authority.
The Act is to be enforced by the Local Authorities.
In exercise of the powers conferred on him, by the Act, the Minister of
Agriculture and Fisheries has issued regulations for the grading and marking of
eggs (The Agricultural Produce (Grading and Marking) (Eggs) Regulations, 1928).
The regulations provide for hens' eggs to be designated:—
" Special," minimum weight 2¼ ozs.
" Standard," minimum weight 2 ozs.
"Pullet Standard," minimum weight 1¾ ozs.
and for ducks' eggs to be designated:—
" Special Duck," minimum weight 2¾ ozs.
" Standard Duck," minimum weight 2½ ozs.
" Ducklet Standard," minimum weight 2¼ ozs.
The regulations also provide that after the 28th day of February, 1929, preserved eggs
shall be conspicuously and legibly marked on the shell with the word "preserved" By an
Order in Council under Section II. of the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926, any British egg
which has been kept in cold or chemical storage is to be marked in the former case with the
word "chilled" or with the words "cold stored" and in the latter case with the word
"sterilised"
The regulations also prescribe the method of registration of premises used for
the purpose of cold storage or chemical storage of eggs. On the new legislation
coming into operation an epitome of the requirements was prepared and distributed
to all the purveyors of eggs in the Borough.
Sale of Chlorodyne.
From time to time attention is directed to the danger arising from the uncontrolled sale
of chlorodyne, several preparations of which are on the market and easily obtainable.
In a previous Annual Report (1923) reference was made to samples of the preparation
purchased from retail chemists in the Borough, the first sample, 1 oz., was found to contain
morphine equal to about 0.67 grains of anhydrous morphine, and the second, a 2 oz.
sample, contained morphine equivalent to 1.32 grains of anhydrous morphine. The Inspectors
purchasing these samples were not asked to sign the poison book, nor was such book mentioned
by either vendor. A poisonous dose of chlorodyne can evidently be easily obtained,
and several deaths have in fact been reported from various coroner's courts as due to this
cause.
Attention has recently again been directed to the matter by a case in a coroner's court
in which the driver of a motor omnibus caused the death of two pedestrians owing to a
temporary feeling of dizziness while be was at the wheel. The driver confessed to having
taken 28 drops of chlorodyne on an empty stomach to cure a cold, and he lost control of his
vehicle while under the influence of the drug. As morphia in the form of chlorodyne can be
bought easily and taken in sufficiently large doses by the general public as to endanger the
lives of others, it would seem time that drastic regulations were made for its use. At the
present time the regulations under the Dangerous Drugs Acts do not apply to the sale of
this drug.