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91
Drugs.—Calcium chloride was included in certain proscriptions
which were made up for analysis, and a marked deficiency was found
in several samples, varying from 18 to 40 per cent. This drug is of a
deliquescent nature, and should be kept in small quantities and in
closely-stoppered bottles or in solution, otherwise prescribers finding the
doses ordered insufficient for the purpose for which the drug was ordered,
may be led to use larger doses, and if these happen to be made up of a
full strength drug, there may be unfortunate results. The attention of
chemists was called to the matter.
Other Infringements of the Food and Drugs Acts.—In addition
to the prosecutions for adulteration, proceedings were taken for the
following:—
(1) Neglecting to have name on milk can. Fined £2 and 12s. 6d.
costs.
(2) Refusing to serve.
(a) Milk.—Dismissed. Magistrate refused to convict
master as he was not present when his servant
refused.
(b) Milk.—The vendor refused to serve the inspector
from a can out of which he had previously served a
customer, and poured into it milk from another can.
A sample of the mixture was eventually obtained
and found then to have 9 per cent, of added water.
Fined £5 and 2s. costs for refusal to sell, £20 and
£5 5s. costs for the adulteration.
(c) Spinach.—Tins were exhibited for sale in the shop
window, but as a successful prosecution had taken
place on account of the copper in the spinach, the
then owner refused to sell. Fined £3 and £2 2s. Od.
costs.
(3) Obstructing Inspector.—The manager of a shop seized a tin of
spinach which the Inspector had bought and refused to allow
him to have it again. Fined £10 and £3 3s. Od. costs.
The net amount of penalties and costs, after deducting the costs
paid in cases dismissed, was £231 5s. 6d,
Seventy-five per cent, of the samples were purchased by the Inspectors
by means of agents.
Particulars of each case are appended :—