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171
1910, as compared with 15.6 in 1902. It should, however, be added
that (as in Stoke Newington) many of the samples purchased are
below the quality of the average milk supply of London, although they
are a trifle above the low legal limits which have been fixed.
It is not easy to check the practice of reducing genuine milk
to milk of inferior quality, when the reduction does not bring it
below the legal limits of composition. Although the Public Analyst
knows that many milk samples are thus adulterated, he cannot report
them as such, so long as they are not adulterated to the extent
in reference to milk that an adequate punishment for fraudulent practices
is demanded. Magistrates often do not realise this and it is common
to find a far heavier fine inflicted for whiskey adulterated with
water than for milk which has been similarly adulterated.
It has often been raised in defence that the excessive drinking
of water by cows has been responsible for the analyst's opinion that
the milk contains added water. The Board of Agriculture has recently
had some experiments made in order to ascertain if there is any justification
for this view; and the result of 'the experiments point to the
conclusion that the amount of water consumed by cows has no direct
bearing on the composition of their yield. Further experiments upon
this matter are contemplated.
A special reference to milk is justified by the vital importance
of this material as infant food and also by the exceptional possibilities
of fraud in connection with its retail sale. Of course, the
percentages of adulterated milk sold in London is not fairly represented
by the samples obtained for analysis, because (very properly)
a large proportion of the samples taken are obtained from individuals
who may be under suspicion, while relatively few are taken of the
reputable salesmen; but if we were to assume that the whole of milk
is adulterated on the scale of the samples taken for analysis, the
enormous proportion of water added and fat extracted from the
Metropolitan milk supply would be very appalling. But even under
the most favourable estimate a great many thousand gallons of water