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238
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
In three cases proceedings were taken against milk sellers for
selling milk from a receptacle upon which their name and address
were not conspicuously inscribed, and convictions were obtained.
(See other offences, Table CXI.)
It is satisfactory to report that in no case during the year
was the Inspector refused a sample of milk for analysis.
In one case a milk vendor, when the Inspector asked for a
sample of milk from a certain can containing about eight quarts of
milk, deliberately upset the contents. The Inspector managed to
seize the can in time to save sufficient milk, which on analysis was
found to contain 57 per cent. of added water. Proceedings were
taken against the vendor for wilfully obstructing the Inspector,
and at the hearing of the summons the defendant stated that the can
was upset through nervousness. In convicting the Magistrate
remarked that in his opinion 57 per cent. of added water was
sufficient to make the strongest man nervous.
In 16 cases the defendants relied on a warranty, but in 12
cases only could the vendors satisfy the Magistrate that the milk
was sold in the same condition as received.
15 samples of condensed machine skimmed milk were analysed
and found to be genuine.
The following Table shows the number of milk samples taken,
the number found adulterated, and the percentage adulteration for
the past 10 years, compared with the year 1912.