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St. Mildred's Poultry Churchyard.—During the course of excavations in connection with
building operations in St. Mildred's Poultry Churchyard, a quantity of human remains were
exhumed. In all, they amounted to 4 coffins and 16 cases containing loose bones. They
were all transferred to the City of London Cemetery at Ilford.
It may be of interest to mention that St. Mildred's Poultry Churchyard was the subject
of Act of Parliament which authorised the burial ground of St. Mildred's Poultry Church
to be sold to the Midland Bank, Limited, for building purposes, and it was in connection with
this work that the remains were discovered.
SUPERVISION OF FOOD AND DRUGS.
During the year 1925, 1,022 samples of Food and Drugs were submitted to the Public
Analyst for examination. Of this number, 690 were taken as test samples without the formalities
of the Acts being observed; of these 18 were found adulterated, made up as follows
3 of Armenian Bole out of 4 samples taken.
3 of Malt Vinegar out of 13 samples taken.
2 of Cream (not preserved) out of 9 samples taken.
2 of Calomel Ointment out of 8 samples taken.
2 of Strong Tincture of Iodine out of 2 samples taken.
1 of Baking Powder out of 10 samples taken.
1 of Crushed Linseed out of 9 samples taken.
1 of Gregory's Powder out of 7 samples taken.
1 of Sponge Cake out of 12 samples taken.
1 of Sweet Spirit of Nitre out of 2 samples taken.
1 of Vinegar out of 15 samples taken.
Of the formal samples 20 out of 332 were found to be adulterated, made up as follows:—
9 of Milk out of 290 samples taken.
3 of Malt Vinegar out of 3 samples taken.
3 of Rum out of 8 samples taken.
2 of Cream (not preserved) out of 2 samples taken.
1 of Butter out of 9 samples taken.
1 of Crushed Linseed out of 1 sample taken.
1 of Calomel Ointment out of 2 samples taken.
The above samples, in all cases except Milk, Butter and Spirits, were taken as the result
of informal samples having been certified as adulterated.
General Observations.—The percentage rate of adulteration of all foods sampled in the
City was 3.7 as compared with 4 .4 for 1924.
Butter.—The recorded instance of adulteration of Butter was excess of water.
Drugs.—Nine samples of Drugs were found not to comply with the standards of the
British Pharmacopoeia. There were two prosecutions, and in other instances cautions were
issued.
Spirits.—Of the 23 samples of Spirits taken 3 were found to be below the statutory
minimum strength of 35 degrees under proof. In 2 instances legal proceedings were instituted
and in one case the vendor was cautioned.
Margarine.—Two samples of Margarine were sold in plain or improperly marked
wrappers. The vendors were cautioned.
Legislation.—Following the report of the Departmental Committee on the use of
Preservatives and Colouring Matters in Foods, issued in 1924, the Public Health (Preservatives,
etc., in Food) Regulations, dated 4th August, 1925, were published but do not become
operative until 1st January, 1927.
The Milk and Dairies (Consolidation) Act, 1915, became operative on the 1st September,
1925. There are several new provisions in this measure which vary the administration
of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts with regard to milk, among which may be mentioned
the obligation of the Local Authority to take a sample in course of transit or delivery from
the seller or consignor to the purveyor where the latter has given notice to the Local Authority
within sixty hours of a sample having been taken from the purveyor. Unless such a
notice is given the purveyor is deprived of the warranty defence in the event of a prosecution.
The Local Authority is also prevented from taking proceedings if it has failed to procure a
sample in course of transit or delivery when such a notice has been served.
Thirteen such notices were received.