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 1913

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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Table:

No. of Sample.Date of Hearing.Offence.Result.
1234
1913.CREAM.
9 S.19th Feb.Contained 41.279 grains of boric-acid per lb.Third sample sent to Somerset House and summons adjournsd sine die.
65 S.9th AprilContained 12.39 grains of boric-acid per lb.Fined 8s. and 12s. 6d. costs.
Milk and Cream Regulations:—
273 S.11th JuneSelling cream containing boric acid, in a receptacle not labelled as required by the RegulationsSummons dismissed, the Magistrate being of opinion that the omission to label the cream was not wilful, although Defendants had been previously cautioned.
Labels had been supplied by the firm, but were not used by the manageress.
411 S.23rd July37.19 grains of boric acid per lb.Fined 40s. and 12s. 6d. costs.

Text

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Solicitor for tlie Defendants did not dispute the facts, but contended that there was a good
defence under a section of the Act, which stated that no person was liable to conviction . . .
if he could show to the satisfaction of the Court that he did not know that the article sold was
mixed, and that he could not, by reasonable negligence, have obtained that knowledge.
The Defendants had for 18 years purchased their cream in bulk from the Belgravia Dairy
Company. It was sold exactly as received and there was no notice or intimation of any
preservation to the Defendants. It was described as "cream" in the dairy company's
invoices.

Table: BUTTER AND MARGARINE.

BUTTER AND MARGARINE.

280 S.*28th May36.5 per cent, of foreign fatFined £3, and 12s. 6d. costs.
311 S.25th JuneExposing for sale margarine without a labelFined 5s. and 12s. 6d. costs.
370 N.*27 th JuneSelling margarine as butter (taken in course of delivery)Two months' imprisonment.
371 N.*27th JuneExposing for sale margarine not labelledWithdrawn, on above sentence being passed.
Package containing margarine not branded
649 S.*26th Nov.Selling margarine as butterFined £3 and 12s. 6d. costs.
868 N.*2nd Dec.Selling margarine as butterFined £5 and £2 2s. costs.
BREAD AND BUTTER.
209 N.*15th AprilThe butter containing 70 per cent. of margarineFined 40s. and 23s. costs.
CHICKEN, HAM AND TONGUE.
158 S.*16th April25.907 grains of boric acid per lb.Warranty proved. Summons dismissed.
SALMON AND ANCHOVY PASTE.
291 N.23rd May99 grains of boric acid per poundFined 20s. and 12s. 6d. costs.
SALMON, SHRIMPS AND ANCHOVIES.
525 N.8th Aug.Containing boric acid (1.277 per cent.)Fined 40s. and 12s. 6d. costs.
1914BEEF SAUSAGE.
912 N.6th Jan.43.4 grains of boric acid per lb.Fined £5 and 12s. 6d. costs.
SAUSAGE ROLLS.
913 N.6th Jan.28 grains of boric acid per lb. of meat presentFined £5 and 12s. 6d. costs.
Same Defendant as 912 N. He stated that the pork butcher's shop was under management, and the fact that an excessive amount of preservative was used, was either due to accident or to gross carelessness on the part of his assistants.
* In these cases there have been prosecutions previously.