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to be altogether the fault of the retailer as he paid the price for the
genuine article.
The other spirits were reported to be genuine, but three of them had
the quantity of spirit reduced below the standard.
Drugs.—Quinine wine, tincture of quinine, fluid magnesia, boric
acid, and boric ointment were sampled. Ammoniated tincture of
quinine was supplied in one instance. Two of the boric ointments were
not quite in compliance with the British Pharmacopoeia, which directs
that there should be 10 per cent, of boric acid; one contained 17 per
cent., the other 12.5 per cent., probably due to the acid not being
properly mixed with the paraffin ointment which forms a base. The
attention of the sellers was called to this.
Obstructing Inspectors.—It reflects creditably on the way the two
food inspectors (Messrs. McNair and Williams) carry out their
duties that very little friction results. Occasionally a dishonest vendor
may try to recover the article he has sold when he discovers that he has
sold to an agent of the inspector, but generally a warning from the
inspector of the risk he runs is sufficient. In one case, however, proceedings
had to be taken for obstructing the inspector, and a fine of £2
and costs was imposed. The facts are that an agent purchased some
milk and butter at a small shop. On the inspector entering and
declaring the reason of the purchases, the vendor seized the articles and
threw them to the back of the shop.
Another case has already been mentioned under the heading "Milk,
Refusal to Sell."