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1922]
60
ADULTERATION OF FOOD AND DRUGS.
During the year 1,209 samples of foods and drugs were submitted for analysis by
Mr. Green, the Food and Drugs Inspector, who purchased the samples for submission
to our Analyst, Dr. F. L. Teed, and to the additional Analyst, Air. A. Pinchin, B.Sc. Of
the total samples 1,096 were reported to be genuine and 113 adulterated, or 9.3 per cent.
This percentage is 4.4 higher than in the previous year, and 1.4 per cent, above the average
rate during the preceding 10 years.
The greatest amount of adulteration occurred in the first and third quarters of the
year, as is seen by the statement given below, when it was 13.9 and 90 per cent, respectively,
and contrasted with 5.5 and 8.8 per cent, respectively in the second and fourth quarters.
Examined. Genuine. Adulterated. Per cent.
1st Quarter 323 278 45 13.9
2nd 325 307 18 5.5
3rd „ 310 282 28 9.0
4th „ 251 229 22 8.8
The Year 1,209 1,096 113 9 3
Prosecutions.—48 summonses were issued under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts,
of which 40 were successfully prosecuted. Altogether penalties and costs to the amount
of £84 3s. 6d. were obtained. 38 prosecutions were also taken under the "Milk (England
and Wales) Order, 1921," resulting in 29 convictions with penalties and costs amounting
to £114 3s. 6d.
DISPENSING OF PRESCRIPTIONS.
Attention has been drawn to the desirability of testing the accuracy of the dispensing
of prescriptions. The National Health Insurance Committee had offered to supply test
insurance prescriptions, but at the suggestion of the Medical Officer of Health the Public
Health Committee decided, in the meantime at any rate, that the results as regards ordinary
prescriptions be tried. It was known through analyses carried out by the Stepney
Borough Council, and also by the City of London, that there was considerable variance
and inaccuracy. It was therefore desirable that the position as regards Islington should
be known.
The testing of medicinal preparations has not in the past received the same amount
of attention as, for instance, milk, and lias mainly been confined to articles such as Gregory
Powder, Olive Oil, Blaud's Pills, etc. The actual testing of a Physician's prescription, which"
might vary (if inaccurately dispensed) not only at every shop to which it were taken,
but even at the same establishment on different occasions, has formed a very small
proportion of the total number of the analyses made by Public Anatysts.
As the Physician may in certain cases rely upon the medicine he prescribes as an
aid to confirm diagnosis—for should the medic ne not take the expected effect on the
patient, he might be deceived as regards the actual condition, not suspecting the medicine
to be defective—the matter is a very important one, quite apart from the fact that the public