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164
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Canal Boats Act.
During the year 35 inspections of Canal Boats were made, but it
was only necessary to serve one intimation notice. The nuisance
complained of was the foul and dirty condition of the cabin, and the
notice was complied with forthwith. In three cases where foul cargoes
were carried the Inspector reported that there was no double bulkhead.
This fact was reported to the officials of the Port Sanitary Authority,
and in one of the cases a double bulkhead was provided. The general
condition of the canal boats inspected during the year was found to be
fairly satisfactory.
Statement of Work under the Sale of Food and Drugs
Act.
During the past year 750 samples of foods and drugs have been
submitted to the Public Analyst for analysis.
Of these, 85, or 1133 per cent., were reported to be adulterated,
compared with 12.3 per cent. in the previous year. It may, therefore,
be assumed that the standard of purity is increasing gradually. Taking
into consideration, however, the class of trade which is carried on in
this Borough, which is certainly of a somewhat higher grade than that
of the average, this reduced percentage of adulteration must even
now be considered a high one, but it is principally due, as in former
years, to the high rate of adulteration which has been detected in the
samples of milk submitted for analysis.
During the period under review the percentage of milk samples
taken which fell below the milk standard laid down by the Board of
Agriculture was 15.3 per cent., compared with 17.2 in 1903.
In 58 cases out of the 85 adulterated samples, proceedings were
taken against the vendors, and in the other cases the Council, taking
into consideration the circumstances of the purchase and the low percentage
of adulteration, decided not to prosecute.
The total amount received in penalties under the above Acts was
£73 135., and the costs recovered amounted to £38 8s. 6d., a total
of £ll2 1s. 6d.