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149
Thus during the year the Milk samples furnished evidence of
the very general practice of toning down," a large proportion of
the samples containing fat and non-fatty matter very near to the
low legal limits.
Many of the samples purchased under the Sale of Food and
Drugs Acts have been obtained through the employment of a
deputy, for the Sanitary Inspectors are well known to tradesmen
and others.
All the samples of Milk, Butter, Cream and Margarine were
tested for antiseptics, with the result that none of the samples of
Milk, but 2 of Cream, 3 of Margarine, and 10 of Butter were
found to contain them. In no case was the amount sufficient to
warrant a prosecution, and in each case boric acid was found;
but in one or two instances the vendors were cautioned.
The 24 Butter samples taken throughout the year were found
to be satisfactory. With the exception of small amounts of boric
acid, I have not succeeded, in the limited number of samples with
which I have had to deal, in discovering anything to take exception
to. Since the use of coconut oil has extended in connection
with the adulteration of butter, a careful test for this material
has been made, but always with negative results. In addition
to the employment of this oil in the making of Margarine it has
been retailed as a substitute for lard.
In my last Report I referred to the practice of "informal
sampling" which may be employed by Local Authorities to
discover where adulteration is being practised, without arousing
the suspicions of the traders; so that where matters are not
found to be satisfactory subsequent samples may be obtained
under the formalities of the Act with a view to the exposure and
punishment of the offender. Several informal samples have been
taken during the year, and it is hoped to increase this number
in future years. The informal samples collected did not lead to
the detection of adulteration.
In Metropolitan London, as a whole, during 1912 one sample
was analysed for every 179 persons, being at the rate of 5.6 per