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170 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Butter in this district is solely confined to the substitution of
Margarine, and that in no sample submitted for analysis has there
been found more than 16 per cent. of water, which is the maximum
amount laid down in the Sale of Butter Regulations by the Board
of Agriculture.
Of the Grocery samples submitted only seven, or 7.7 per cent.,
were returned as adulterated, compared with 13.82 in the previous
year.
Five of the seven adulterated samples were of Coffee.
Of the 20 samples of Drugs submitted for analysis not one was
found to be below the standard of the British Pharmacopoeia. This
is a decided improvement upon 1903, when the percentage of adulterated
samples reached the comparatively high figure of in.
During the year eight samples of meats have been purchased for
analysis, viz.:—four of bacon and four of sausages. In every instance
they were certified to contain boric acid, but with one exception
(sausages containing 30 grains of boric acid per pound) the quantity
was not considered to be enough to be injurious to health.
The percentage of adulteration detected under the heading of
Alcoholic Beverages, viz.:—25, does not actually represent the amount
of adulteration carried on in the Borough. It should be borne in mind
that only four samples were taken during the year, and of these one,
of Brandy, was found to be adulterated to the extent of 10.8 degrees
below the legal limit, and in which a conviction was obtained. In
1903 all the samples submitted were returned as genuine.
The following Table shows the number of samples of Milk,
Butter, Coffee, Other Groceries, Drugs, Alcoholic Beverages, Bread,
and Cereals, and other samples taken and submitted for analysis, the
number and percentage of adulterations detected in each class, and
also the number of samples purchased by the Inspector himself and
by deputies, with the respective adulterations.