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89
(reasonable foundations for which have been within my own
knowledge), have reached me of serious illness having resulted
from the use of "tinned provisions." Inasmuch as the
quality of the food of the people is of great sanitary—indeed
vital importance, it becomes my duty to draw attention to
this subject by pointing out the probable cause of the ill
effects complained of. Such cause doubtless arises from the
decomposition which some of such provisions undergo
from lapse of time. It seems to have been assumed (by the
vendors as well as the purchasers), that these viands
having been hermetically sealed after the exclusion of air,
undergo no change lor an indefinite length of time. It should
be borne in mind however that the exhaustion of the air,
contemplated by the process employed in the manufacture, is
not, and indeed cannot be complete, and that the decomposition
however much delayed must gradually and surely take
place. As it is impossible for the purchaser of these viands
to determine how long they have been prepared, it would
seem extremely desirable that some guarantee of the age of
such provisions should be afforded, by the stamping of
the tins with the date of manufacture, either through the
agency of the Board of Trade, or by some other governmental
procedure.
The statistical and other information presented in the
foregoing pages furnishes satisfactory evidence of the high
standard of health attained by this sub-district during the past
year; and the great general progress shewn to have taken place
in all the operations of sanitation, may be fairly accepted as
having conduced to so desirable a result.
GEORGE EDWARD NICHOLAS, M.D.
Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth.
May 29th, 1884.