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295
[1913
As the percentage of adulteration varied according as the samples were
taken on weekdays, Sundays, and at railway stations, the facts respecting them
will be of interest.
Milks Purchased on Sundays.—162 samples were purchased, of which 11,
or 6.8 per cent., were adulterated, as contrasted with 8.7 per cent. in 1911 and
6.9 per cent. in 1910. Since it became known some years ago that the
sampling of milk was as actively pursued on Sundays as on other days, the
percentage amount of adulteration has fallen. Up to the end of 1902 it had
only been done in an irregular way, and as a consequence the percentage of
adulteration was high, but since then it has decreased, so that last year it was
only 6-8 per cent., as compared with 15 per cent. in 1898 (vide Table CXXI.).
Milks Purchased on Week-days.—318 samples were submitted to the
Public Analyst, of which 30, or 9.4 per cent., were found to be adulterated.
This contrasted with 4.9 in 1912, when the amount of adulteration was
unusually low; indeed it was the smallest percentage hitherto known in the
borough, in which it has averaged 11.2 per cent. since 1898 (vide Table CXXI.)
Milks Procured at Railway Stations.—120 samples were procured and
examined by the Public Analyst, who returned 4, or 3.3 per cent., as
adulterated. This percentage is in excess of that of the preceding year, when
it was 2.5. It is to be accounted for by the fact that the adulterated milks
were specially taken for a milk purveyor who suspected that a farmer was
supplying him with an inferior milk. It may, however, be taken as a fact that
the farmers supply good milks to their local customers, as will presently be
shown.
The quality of the milk sold in the borough was very good.
The Medical Officer of Health has taken the trouble to examine the
certificates of the 600 milks reported on by the Public Analyst, and he has
given the results in the Table CXVIII. which follows, which shows the fat contents
of these milks. He finds that out of the 600 samples reported on, only 35
contained less than 3 per cent. of fat, which is the minimum standard laid
down by the Government, while 225, or 37.50 per cent. showed from 3.0 to 3.4
per cent, of fat. These would be considered fairly good milks; indeed,
anything over 3.25 is now looked on as a fair average milk. But he also finds,
and this is the best part of the record, that 340 samples contained over 3.5 per
cent, of lat, and are, therefore, very good milks.