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191
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Statement of Work done under the Sale of Food and
Drugs Act.
During the past year 989 samples of foods and drugs were
submitted to the Public Analyst for analysis, compared with 905
in 1906, and 853 in 1905.
Of these, 84 or 8.49 per cent. were reported to be adulterated,
compared with 9.2 per cent. in 1906, and 7.6 per cent. in 1905.
The percentage of milk samples found to be adulterated was
10.97, compared with 10.26 in 1906, and 7.2 in 1905. It is necessary,
however, to point out that out of the 55 cases of adulterated
milk reported during the year, in 25 the Public Health Committee,
after consideration of the amount of adulteration and the circumstances
under which the milk was sold, decided that no action
should be taken against the vendors, so that while the percentage
of adulterated samples of milk detected was higher than in former
years, the percentage of prosecutions fell to 5.9.
In 52 cases out of the 84 in which adulterations were detected
proceedings were instituted against the vendor, compared with 59
cases in 1906.
The total amount received in penalties under the above Acts
during the year amounted to £131, and the costs to £36 4s.,
making a total of £167 4s., compared with £140 12s. in 1906.