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256
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
Sugar.
10 samples of sugar were analysed, one of which was reported
against. This sample was purchased as Demerara sugar, but on
analysis proved to be dyed or coloured crystals.
In this case the vendor was cautioned.
Drugs.
10 samples of drugs, which included two prescriptions, were
taken and one sample was reported against. This was a sample
of Gregory's powder which was not prepared in accordance with
the requirements of the British Pharmacepoeia. No action was
taken against the vendor in this case, as the adulteration was not
a serious one, being the substitution of magnesium carbonate for
magnesium oxide.
Other Articles.
77 samples classified under this heading were procured for
analysis, and 20 or 25-9 per cent, were reported against.
The chief adulterations occurred in the tinned or canned foods,
in which a small amount of metallic contamination was detected,
but in no case was the amount considered injurious to health.
12 samples of rice were analysed, all of which were reported
to be free from "facing."
12 samples of sausage and prepared meats were analysed for
preservatives, and it is very satisfactory to state that 10 of the
samples were found to be entirely free from preservatives, whilst
the two cases reported against contained only a very small amount
of preservative. A comparison of this year's percentage of 16.6
against that for 1910, which was 58, shows that the proceedings
which were very reluctantly taken against several vendors for
adding an excessive amount of preservative to prepared meats,
have done a great deal of good in checking this form of adulteration.