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 1917
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Poplar, Metropolitan Borough]
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JOf the 346 samples of milk, 83 samples were procured on Sundays
from itinerant vendors and 67 from itinerant vendors on weekdays.
Four Sunday samples were not in accordance with the standard and
legal proceedings were instituted. Seven weekday samples were not
genuine legal; proceedings were instituted in six cases and the seventh
vendor was cautioned. Twenty-five samples were taken on delivery,
viz., 6 Poplar Union Workhouse, 7 Sick Asylum, 1 Langley House, 9
Out-relief Stores, North Street, and 2 Railway Station. All the samples
taken at the Institutions, with one exception, were genuine.
Of these 710 samples legal proceedings were instituted in 22 cases and letters of caution were sent in three instances.
| Milk | 17 |
| Vinegar | 1* |
| Margarine | 3† |
| Lard | I‡ |
The Public Analyst during the year had analysed 7K, samples;
25 or 3 per cent, were found to be adulterated.
The following table shows the percentage of all adulterated samples found in the several years named :—
| 1890 | 12.6 |
| 1891 | 14.4 |
| 1892 | 18.9 |
| 1893 | 20.5 |
| 1894 | 20.6 |
| 1895 | 22.1 |
| 1896 | 12.4 |
| 1897 | 14.2 |
| 1898 | 14.6 |
| 1899 | 9.2 |
| 1900 | 7.6 |
| 1901 | 9.1 |
| 1902 | 15.4 |
| 1903 | 8.2 |
| 1904 | 7.2 |
| 1905 | 8.8 |
| 1906 | 7.0 |
* Adulterated with 20 per cent added water.
† 3 not properly labelled.
‡ Adulterated with at least, 30 per cent, vegetable fat.