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155
The most common substitute for olive oil is cotton seed oil, and
there is little doubt that the increased use of this oil is largely responsible
for the troubles of digestion so common at the present day.
Apart from its value in the preparation of salads, fish, &c., olive
oil is a wholesome, nutritive article of diet, especially useful in the
case of children and persons unable to digest ordinary fat.
DRUGS.

I have had occasion in previous Reports to point out that the proportion
of drugs found to be not up to standard requirements was far
too high, and little improvement in this respect has taken place last year.
It is not suggested that any fraud is intended on the part of the
vendors, but that the offence is due to carelessness or neglect to ensure
that the drugs sold are in accordance with the recognised standard.
Included in the adulterated samples were two of powdered gentian
root containing 25 per cent. and 40 per cent. respectively of ground
olive stones. Both offenders were prosecuted. In each case, however,
the drug had been in stock for a number of years, and had been purchased
by the vendors with the business.
Each was ordered to pay 12s. 6d. expenses.
Two samples of light magnesia were reported against. One, an informal
sample, was certified to contain 20.9 per cent. of carbonic acid
and water; the other, a formal purchase at the same shop, 11.5 per cent. of
carbonic acid and 7.7 per cent. of water.
The vendor of the latter was prosecuted and fined £5 and 17s. 6d. expenses.
In a case where iron pill was asked for, the purchaser was supplied with
quinine and iron pill. This was an informal sample.
Samples taken subsequently at the same shop were returned as genuine,
thus showing that the sale of pills containing quinine in the first instance was
an illustration of gross carelessness.