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49
The Borough Analyst, J. Kear Colwell, Esq., F.I.C., has kindly supplied the
following notes: —
During the year GOO samples were submitted to me for analysis under the
Food and Drugs Adulteration Act, 1928, 595 having been purchased with the usual
formalities and five obtained informally.
Of this total, 12 samples (2 per cent.) were found to be adulterated: they
were cream, milk, minced meat, sausages and blue ointment.
Cream.—Only one of the fifteen samples of cream examined was certified to
be " not genuine " a small quantity of boric acid being present.
Milk.—The improvement in the quality of the milk supply was well maintained
throughout the year as only three of the 176 samples (1.7 per cent.) fell below the
limits prescribed by the Board of Agriculture for genuine milk of the poorest
quality. In two cases 2.6 and 10 per cent. of fat, respectively, had been abstracted
and in the third at least 7.5 per cent. of water had been added. There can be no
doubt that the systematic sampling of the milk supply has a very beneficial effect
from the consumer's point of view.
Minced Meat.—The sample of minced meat certified to be adulterated contained
sulphite (110 parts per million in terms of sulphur dioxide).
Blue Ointment.—Blue ointment prepared in accordance with the British
Pharmaceutical Codex should contain 10 per cent. of mercury. The sample
certified to be "not genuine" contained 16 per cent., an excess of 60 per cent.
It cannot be emphasised too strongly that prescriptions should be dispensed exactly
as prescribed.
It is interesting to note that, with this exception, the prescriptions submitted
during the year were very accurately dispensed.
Sausages.—Five of the 21 samples of sausages (about 24 per cent. or nearly
one in five) had been preserved with sulphites, the quantity of sulphur dioxide
found varying from 220 to 370 parts per million.
Informal Samples.—None of the informal samples was adulterated.
J. KEAR COLWELL.
D