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Two of the jams and 1 sample of the fish paste contained weighable
amounts of siliceous matter, but as in each case sand was present it was
impossible to state if they were contaminated with the glass particles.
The following samples connected with the work of the various
Departments were also examined.
For the Electricity Department, 1 sample of Condenser Deposit.
For the Public Health Department, 2 samples of water and 1 sample
of deposit from open air swimming bath.
One sample of fruit pulp.
One sample of Electrolyser Deposit.
ALBERT E. PARKES, F.I.C., F.C.S.,
Public Analyst.
Milk.
Early in the year, the Public Analyst reported that in eight months,
of 222 samples of milk submitted to him as fresh milk he had found 140
were fresh and 82 heated. From investigations I made I gathered that
most of the milk conveyed into London is over 24 hours and possibly
two days old. This necessitated preservation by heating and then running
over a brine bath.
I am strongly of opinion that the public should not be under any
misapprehension when purchasing milk, and while appreciating the
difficulty of supplying London with fresh or unheated milk, this
difficulty may be overcome by the proper cooling of milk at the farms
and transportation in refrigerating waggons. The Council concurred
in this view and directed that the attention of the Ministry of Health
should be called to the reports of the Public Analyst, and the heated
milk supplied in the Metropolis.
Tea and Tea-Dust.
On account of complaints received from a neighbouring Borough
as to tea-dust being found on analysis to contain particles of metal, etc.,
many samples of tea and tea-dust were purchased in this Borough. The
Public Analyst reported that some of these contained extraneous matters
and were on the borderline of purity. As there was no standard for
tea and I was advised that there would be certain difficulties in instituting
legal proceedings, letters of caution were sent to the vendors.