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Report of the Medical Officer of Health.
269
of lead found was less than one grain per gallon; but having regard
to the cumulative effect produced on ingesting even minute
amounts of this metal, its presence in such an article is greatly to
be deplored.
Vendors cannot be too strongly warned against the danger of
using lead piping for the purpose referred to above, since laboratory
•experiments showed that the action of the ginger beer in attacking
the metal is extremely rapid. Even in as short a time as 10 minutes
the proportion of lead dissolved may amount to several grains
per gallon.
Preservatives
in Sausages.
An increased number of samples of sausages were submitted
during the year under review compared with 1911.
In all, 19 samples were procured, and of these 14
(or 73.6 per cent.) were found to contain either a Boron or Sulphite
preservative or both. Excessive amounts of Boric Acid were found
in two cases; namely, 67.9 and 43.4 grains per lb. of sausage respectively.
The occurrence of a sulphite preservative in eight instances
is also noteworthy and indicates a somewhat wide-spread adoption
of this article for meat preserving purposes.
Rice.
The examination of 18 samples of Rice afforded evidence
that the sale of an article containing an excess of
mineral matter employed for the purpose of "facing" and so
improving the appearance of the grain is practically non-existent
in the Borough, since no adulteration was found in the samples
submitted.
Golden
Syrup.
Twenty samples of Golden Syrup were submitted for analysis,
of which eight were reported as adulterated.
These consisted wholly of Glucose Syrup, or Starch
Syrup, whereas Golden Syrup should be the syrup obtained in the
production of cane or beet sugar.
Drugs.
It is satisfactory to record that of the 43 samples of Drugs
examined, three only were reported as not up to
standard. This is the more satisfactory when it is noted that out
of 21 different varieties examined, the three deficient samples all
occurred in one type only, namely, Camphorated Oil.