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
City of Westminster 1902
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]
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100
The defendant was previously prosecuted in 1901 for having in his
possession for the purpose of sale 1 cask and 7 tins of caviare in a putrid
state, and was then sentenced to imprisonment.
" Against Joseph Burge, of 4a, Berwick Street, Soho. Inspector
McNair seized 13 rabbits which were exposed for sale on a stall, and
they were ordered by a magistrate to be destroyed. The defendant
having been previously cautioned for a similar offence by the Committee,
proceedings were ordered, resulting in a fine of £20 and 2s. costs being
imposed. "
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.
1,800 samples were purchased during 1902 and submitted to the
Public Analysts for the City. The following is a list of the samples,
with the proportion found adulterated, but a number of those reported
genuine were of inferior quality:—
| Articles of Pood. | Number of Samples Purchased. | Adulterated. | Genuine. | Inferior. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 491 | 58 | 433 | (40) |
| Separated milk | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| Condensed ,, | 53 | 10 | 43 | — |
| Cream | 26 | 17 | 9 | — |
| Butter | 227 | 8 | 219 | (2) |
| Margarine | 23 | 5 | 18 | (1) |
| Cheese | 71 | — | 71 | — |
| Coffee | 144. | 10 | 134 | — |
| „ beans | 18 | — | 18 | — |
| Bread | 54 | — | 54 | — |
| Arrowroot | 36 | 1 | 35 | — |
| Sago | 36 | 5 | 31 | — |
| Beer | 53 | 1 | 52 | — |
| Golden Syrup | 26 | 2 | 24 | — |
| Whisky | 81 | 10 | 71 | (7) |
| Rum | 30 | 6 | 24 | — |
| Gin | 60 | 5 | 55 | (4) |
| Brandy | 9 | 1 | 8 | — |
| Sweets | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Mustard | 26 | 2 | 24 | — |
| Vinegar | 75 | — | 75 | (9) |
| Ground cinnamon | 15 | 1 | 14 | (1) |
| Ginger | 33 | — | 33 | (1) |
| Lard | 8 | — | 8 | — |
| Bakiug powder | 11 | 2 | 9 | (1) |
| Custard ,, | 16 | — | 16 | (2) |
| Ice cream | 53 | 5 | 48 | (7) |
| Cornflour | 42 | 1 | 41 | — |
| Cocoa | 24 | 4 | 20 | — |
| Olive oil | 12 | 1 | 11 | — |
| Preserved pineapples | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| „ pears | 8 | — | 8 | — |
| Tinned peas | 8 | 8 | — | — |
| „ haricots | 1 | 1 | - | — |
| „ tomatoes | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Gherkins | 1 | — | 1 | — |
| Boracic acid ointment | 12 | — | 12 | (1) |
| Tincture of iodine | 12 | 1 | 11 | — |