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251
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
In 10 cases the Public Health Committee alter considering the
various circumstances, such as conditions of sale and the amount
of preservative, decided not to prosecute but to caution the vendors.
In two cases proceedings were instituted against the vendors.
In one instance the vendor was find £3 and costs and in the second
case the summons was withdrawn owing to the reserve sample
having burst.
Butter and Margarine.
BUTTER.
189 samples of butter were analysed by the Public Analyst
during the year of which 31 or 16.4 per cent. were reported against,
compared with 7.23 per cent. in 1910 and 5.35 per cent. in 1909,
thus showing a very great increase.
Here again the Inspector has made a vigorous effort to follow
up the fraudulent trader. In two instances during the year the
trader was not deterred by his first conviction, but continued to
pursue his practice of substituting margarine when butter was
demanded by the purchaser, and in these cases second and third
convictions weie obtained.
In 31 cases proceedings were instituted against the vendors
and convictions obtained. The total amount of penalties including
costs received amounted to £113 4s. od., these penalties ranging
from £1 to £25 and costs.
It is satisfactory to report that of all the butter samples
examined not one was found to contain any excess of moisture or
preservative.
Six samples of butter were purchased from butter hawkers
and four of the six were adulterated. These men go from door to
door in some of the best parts of the Borough and represent that