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268
1908]
It will be noticed that as the year progressed the percentage of adulteration
increased. This increase was entirely due to the methods adopted by Inspector
Burrell, who became the Inspector for the purpose of the Adulteration Acts
at the beginning of the third quarter, and who at once, with the entire approval
of the Public Health Committee, proceeded to obtain informal samples of milk,
butter, margarine, coffee and demerara sugar, which he examined either by
simple processes, which are entirely within the competence of any educated
man, or by the microscope, in the use of which Mr. Burrell is very highly skilled.
If he found that any of these samples were not genuine, he at once proceeded
to make purchases under the Acts, while with respect to those which were
genuine, no further action was taken. In this way he examined 340 samples of
the above mentioned foods, of which 245 were genuine, 28 were protected by a
declaration, and 47 did not appear to be genuine. At the end of the year, 36
duplicate samples had been purchased and submitted to the Public Analyst, who
afterwards reported against 33. Legal proceedings followed in due course,
and penalties and costs to the amount of £71 Gs. 9d. were obtained.
The Inspector has written a short account on his work, which is appended
to this section of the report.
Dairy Produce.— 900 samples were submitted to the Public Analyst
of which 86, or 9.5 per cent., were adulterated, as compared with 7.2 per cent. in
1905, 10.2 per cent. in 1906 and 6.5 per cent. in 1907.