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196
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Table XC. shows the number of samples taken, the number
of adulterations detected and the percentage of adulterated
samples for the years 1898 to 1907.

The average amount of adulteration detected during the last
10 years was 8.9 per cent., and as will be seen by the above Table
that for the past year was 8.4 per cent. By these figures it would
appear that the food supply of the Borough has only slightly
improved. I am, however, convinced that far less adulteration is
actually practised at the present time than was the case a few
years ago. The methods adopted in procuring samples are continually
being altered, and the varied assistance which the
Inspector has at his disposal has aided him considerably in the
detection of offenders.
The system which has been adopted by the Council of allowing
the Inspector to provide his own assistants still works
admirably and economically. No less than 10 different assistants,
including four women, have been engaged at various times during
the past year. He also keeps in constant communication with the
Food Inspectors in adjoining Boroughs, and thus both gives and
receives much valuable information respecting suspicious traders.