View report page

24
Perhaps, therefore, I may trespass upon your good
nature so far as to ask you again for those residual data
of my letter of the 6th, as far as to complete this case.
I gather that in "No. 53" it was not found necessary
to determine the alcohol, the ammonia, the acids, and the
carbon dioxide, with a view to calculate them back into
the non-fatty solids. But if any amount was added to
your findings on account of loss in storage I shall be
glad to know what that amount was.
Since my last letter I find that the Defendant's portion of
sample "No. 53" was sent to Messrs. Redwood & de Hailes
for analysis on his behalf on October 20th, and that they
certified that " the milk was adulterated with not less
than nine per cent, of added water." But your certificate
being so much better, the Defendant did not produce his
certificate from Messrs. Redwood & de Hailes.
Faithfully yours,
(Signed) JAMES EDMUNDS.
Richabd Bannister, Esq.,
F.C.S., &c., &c."
Government Laboratory,
[Copy.] Clement's Inn Passage,
Strand, W.C.,
24th December, 1897.
Dear Sir,
In reply to the enquiry contained in your letter of the
16th instant whether the Alcohol, Ammonia, &c., were
determined in the sample of Reference Milk 53, I have to
state that in accordance with our usual practice they were
estimated.*
The result of our examination was stated in my letter of
November 16th, viz., that no allowance had, practically, to
be made to cover the loss of non-fatty solids by keeping.
I may state in conclusion that if the law had permitted
us to use as a standard for comparison 12.5% milk-solids,
as you have done in making your calculation of water
addition, our conclusions and yours would have agreed.
With the season's compliments.
Believe me,
Yours faithfully,
(Signed) R. BANNISTER.
Du. James Edmunds.
* The term "estimated" is not an answer. To estimate an ingredient
means to make an approximate judgment as to quantity. To determine it is
to measure it or to weigh it. To "test" for a tiling is merely to determine
the fact of its presence, but without determining or even estimating its
quantity.—[J.E.]