London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Wandsworth 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]
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| year. | no. of samples taken. | no. adulterated. | percentage adulterated. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 584 | 51 | 8.7 |
| 1903 | 729 | 90 | 12.3 |
| 1904 | 750 | 85 | 11.3 |
| 1905 | 853 | 65 | 7.6 |
| 1906 | 905 | 84 | 9.2 |
| 1907 | 989 | 84 | 8.4 |
| 1908 | 1,004 | 88 | 8.76 |
| 1909 | 1,030 | 71 | 6.89 |
| 1910 | 1,060 | 96 | 9.05 |
| 1911 | 927 | 123 | 13.2 |
| average 10 years 1902—1911 | 883 | 83 | 9.2 |
| 1912 | 1,500 | 271 | 18.0 |
Table CXII. shows the number of samples taken, the number
adulterated, and the percentage of adulterated samples for the
10 years 1902-11, compared with the year 1912.
From this table it will be seen that the average percentage
of adulterations detected for the 10 years 1902-11 was 9.2 per cent.,
compared with 18.0 in 1912 an increase of no less than 8 8 per cent.
This increase is partly due to the large amount of adulteration
detected in milk and butter samples. There are also other factors
which have a direct bearing on this increase, the chief being that
the Inspector has again made a determined effort to follow up the
habitually fraudulent trader, with the result that several of these,
who had been convicted several times, have left the Borough.