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278
1912]
denies that the purity of food is much to be desired for the sake of the health
of the public. It is true that little by little something is being done, and one
of the steps in the right direction was the issue of the Milk and Cream Regulations
in 1911. They are, however, by no means satisfactory, for they put into
the hands of sanitary authorities a power of dealing with offenders which should
have remained in those of the judiciary. The particular clause in the Regulations
to which reference is made reads as follows:—
" Provided that before the local authority institute proceedings against
"any person for a contravention of any of the Regulations in this part of the
"Order the local authority shall afford him an opportunity of furnishing in
"writing or otherwise as they may appoint, and shall duly consider such ex"planation
and all the circumstances of the case "
At the present time it is quite open to any person who is charged with an
offence under tne Adulteration Acts to make a representation to the sanitary
authorities, and in Islington that has been done; and if the person charged
has been able to show clearly that he was not, and could not have been, the
offender, the charge has not been pressed against him. In such cases there is
always this difficulty to be faced:—the accused person is not sworn, and, therefore,
what he says cannot be implicitly relied on. Indeed, it is difficult sometimes
to believe some sophisticators of milk on their oath, for several cases
are known to the staff of the Public Health Department of this Borough in
which the accused deliberately perjured themselves to escape conviction; and
only within a very recent period one such case occurred.
The addition of preservatives to foods is a serious offence, which should
be treated as other offences against the food laws are.
As usual, the work of the taking of samples for analysis devolved on
Inspector Burrell, who was appointed for the purpose under the Sale of Food
and Drugs Acts, and it is not too much to say that he has performed his work
with the very greatest assiduity, ability and intelligence.
In the following Table is given the number of samples analysed in each
year since 1891, and shows the number that were genuine and adulterated,
and the percentage adulterated:—