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244
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
proceed under the Criminal Acts for obtaining money under false
pretences. Cases have occurred recently where the vendors charged
in this way have been sent to prison with hard labour.
" The article which these vendors endeavour to sell is sold as
butter, but this on analysis proves to be margarine, with only a very
small percentage of butter.
" This question has been noted in the Official Reports of the
Local Government Board for 1909-1910, and 1910-1911, and
it is there shown how extensive these frauds are, and the difficulties
experienced in detecting and dealing with the offenders."
The following Table shows the number of butter samples
taken, the number found adulterated, and the percentage of
adulteration, together with the average adulteration for the years
1902-1911, compared with the year under review.