View report page

248 Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
pipe communicating with the barrel in the cellar, and samples of
these were taken and submitted for analysis.
" As the presence of even a small amount of lead is dangerous
to health owing to the fact that this metal is a cumulative poison,
I am of opinion that proceedings should be taken in all cases where
it has been found in the official samples with the exception of No. 6,
where the amount was small, but that the owner should be warned
in this instance.
" I am of opinion that the publicity given to prosecutions
would have a salutary effect on the trade, and would be the means
of putting a stop to a practice which is dangerous to the health of
the public.
“The following table shows the results of the formal and
informal samples taken:—

In 11 cases proceedings were instituted against the vendors,
the summons being taken out under Section 3 of the Act of 1875“For
selling ginger beer which was mixed with a soluble lead salt
equivalent to — grains of metallic lead per gallon of ginger beer,
so as to render the same injurious to health.”