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268
Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
terated, or not up to standard amounted to 65 (or 19.9 per cent.),.
18 cases (or 30.5 per cent.) occurring in the formal samples, and
47 (or 17.6 per cent.) in the informal.
The number and variety of the articles grouped under this
heading are shown in the Main Statement preceding, with its
accompanying tables A and B ; whilst full details of the samples
reported as adulterated or not up to standard are given in Table F
following.
The examination of
samples of Self-raising
Flourand Baking
Powder for the
presence of
Calcium Sulphate.
Included under the headings " Flour " and " Other Articles "
are to be found 16 samples of Self-Raising Flour
and 26 samples of Baking Powder. These were
submitted with special reference to the presence or
absence of Calcium Sulphate, and were taken in continuation of
inspection made during 1911 as the result of publication during that
year of Dr. J. M. Hamill's Report to the Local Government Board
" On the presence of Calcium Sulphate in Baking Powder and
Self-Raising-Flour." Whilst in 1911 two samples out of the nine
examined were found to contain this impurity in excess of the
limit recommended as permissible, it is satisfactory to record that
not one of the 42 samples submitted this year was found to be at
fault in this respect.
The presence of
lead in Ginger
Beer.
With a view to ascertaining whether the action of the Borough
Council in 1909 in the matter of certain proceedings
dealing with the contamination of Ginger Beer
with Lead had been successful in putting a stop to the practice then
common of drawing this beverage through lead communicating
pipes to the engine on the counter, 28 samples were submitted for
examination, with special reference to this metallic contamination.
The results recorded are distinctly disappointing, since in no less
than 23 samples of the 28 was a soluble salt of lead found to be
present.
The quantity of lead dissolved from the lead pipe varied
within wide limits: thus, one sample (Informal case No. 197)
was found to contain an amount of lead equivalent to as much as
14 grains per gallon; whilst amounts of 9.8, 6.3, and 2.8 grains were
also met with. In the majority of instances, however, the amount