London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Poplar 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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139
FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS.
Result op Analyses. Legal Proceedings.
Preservatives in Butter.
Margarine Act, 1887, Sale of Pood and Drugs Act, 1899, Butter
and Margarine Act, 1907.
Butter Mixture, Proposed Amendment op the Law. Warranties,
proposed Amendment op the Law.
The results of the analyses of 394 samples were reported to the Committee during the year 1908, the samples being as follows :—
| Sample. | 1st Quarter. | 2nd Quarter. | 3rd Quarter. | 4th Quarter. | Total. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 37 | 39 | 40 | 43 | 159* |
| Butter | 31 | 38 | 29 | 36 | 137† |
| Cheese | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 1 |
| Margarine | 14 | 4 | .. | 1 | 19† |
| Lard | 4 | .. | .. | 4 | |
| Coffee | 5 | 4 | 9 | 3 | 21 |
| Cocoa | 4 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 19 |
| Vinegar | 3 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 10 |
| Mustard | 1 | 1 | 4 | .. | 6 |
| Pepper | 1 | 1 | 3 | 6 | |
| Arrowroot | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| Quinine Sulphate | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 1 |
| Paregoric | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 1 |
| Tartaric Acid | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 1 |
| Glycerine | .. | 1 | .. | 1 | 2 |
| Olive Oil | .. | .. | .. | 2 | 2 |
| Ginger | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 1 |
| Compound Powder oil Jalap | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 1 |
| Compound Tincture of Camphor | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 1 |
| Totals | 108 | 97 | 96 | 93 | 394 |
* Of the 159 samples of milk, 64 samples were procured for the most
part on Sundays from itinerant vendors. Seven samples (10 9 per cent.)
were found to be adulterated, and legal proceedings were instituted
in six instances against the vendors. In 18 instances samples were
taken on delivery at institutions within the Borough—viz., 5 Poplar
Union, 4 Sick Asylum, 4 Blackwall Sick Asylum, and 5 Stepney Union
Workhouse. All the samples were genuine.
f See pages 142-145 under heading of "Legal Proceedings"
respecting samples purchased as butter which were found to be margarine
on analysis, and also as to whether parcels of margarine were properly
labelled when found exposed for sale or when delivered to the Inspectors.