London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Wandsworth 1926

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Wandsworth, Metropolitan Borough]

This page requires JavaScript

Table: Report of the Medical officer of Health

Report of the Medical officer of Health

No.Nature of Sample.Nature of Report.
10ApplesArsenic on surface.
11DittoDitto
12DittoDitto
31ButterExcess Boric Acid.
55ApplesArsenic on Surface.
56ButterExcess Boric Acid.
121CakeContained Boric Acid.
142Sponge CakeDitto
155VinegarDeficient in Acetic Acid.
156DittoDitto
159DittoDitto
163DittoDitto
165ApplesArsenic on Surface.
166Medicinal ParaffinConsisted of Glycerine and Rose Water.
169RiceExcess Talc on Surface.
308ApplesArsenic on Surface.
377ButterExcess Water.
400Jalap, powderedContained Maize Starch.
409LemonadeContained Lead in Solution.
410DittoDitto
421DittoConsisted of Water.
426DittoConsisted of Coloured Water.
427DittoConsisted of Water.
429Lemonade PowderMade with Tartaric Acid.
430DittoDitto
431DittoDitto
432DittoDitto
434DittoDitto
435DittoDitto
436DittoDitto
437DittoDitto
438DittoDitto
439DittoDitto
440DittoDitto
488MustardContained Wheat Flour.
537Ham (Cooked)Contained Boric Acid.
739Condensed MilkDeficient in Fat.
790DittoDitto
831ApplesArsenic on Surface.

Text

Copy text to clipboard

All of the 466 samples of Butter were tested for the presence
of preservatives, with the result that three, (one formal and two
informal) as shown above, were reported as containing an excess
of Boric Acid; 172, or 36.9 per cent., were found to be free,
except for Common Salt, whilst 291, or 62.4 per cent., contained
a boron preservative in quantities not exceeding 0.5 per cent.
when expressed as Crystallised Boric Acid.
In only one Butter sample did the water exceed 16 per cent.
(the maximum permissible), the average moisture content of
all samples being 13.0 per cent.