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
Islington 1908
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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280
1908]
These samples were only examined for alcoholic strength.
| No. of Samples. | No. Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whiskey (Scotch) | 10 | 1 | 10.0 |
| Whiskey (Irish) | 10 | 2 | 20.0 |
| Rum | 8 | — | — |
| Gin | 8 | — | — |
| Total | 36 | 3 | 8.3 |
Drugs.— 91 samples of drugs were examined, of which 17, or 18.7 per
cent. were adulterated.
In the case of 7 pepsins returned as not up to the standard, summonses
were issued, but after consultation with the Public Analyst, the Public Health
Committee decided, owing to the unsatisfactory character of the test in the
British Pharmacopoeia, to withdraw them, and to direct the attention of the
Medical Council to the matter with a request that better and more reliable tests
should be substituted for that at present laid down in the Pharmacopoeia.
The following is a return of the drugs examined:—
| Samples. | Number adulterated. | Percentage adulterated. | Percentage adulterated 1907. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tincture of Quinine | 4 | — | — | — |
| Ammoniated Tincture of Quinine | 10 | 1 | - | |
| Iodine Ointment | 2 | — | — | — |
| Liniment of Oidine | 2 | — | — | — |
| Liquor Iodi Fort. | 2 | — | — | — |
| Tincture of Iodine | 1 | — | — | — |
| Iron Pills | 7 | 2 | — | |
| Pepsin | 7 | 6 | — | |
| Sweet Spirits of Nitre | 7 | — | — | — |
| Cream of Tartar | 7 | 1 | — | |
| Compound Tincture of Camphor | 7 | 1 | - | |
| Prescriptions | 7 | 2 | — | |
| Lime Water | 14 | 1 | 16.7 | |
| Hydrargyrum cum Creta- | 7 | — | — | — |
| Fluid Magnesia | 7 | 3 | — | |
| Oil of Juniper | — | — | — | 100.0 |
| Ground Gentian Root | — | — | — | 100.0 |
| Tartaric Acid | — | — | — | 100.0 |
| 91 | 17 | 14.7 |