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

City of London 1932

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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Table: THE FOOD AND DRUGS (ADULTERATION) ACT, 1928, THE PUBLIC HEALTH (PRESERVATIVES, ETC., IN FOOD) REGULATIONS, THE PUBLIC HEALTH (CONDENSED MILK) REGULATIONS, 1923 AND 1927, THE PUBLIC HEALTH (DRIED MILK) REGULATIONS, 1923 AND 1927, AND THE ARTIFICIAL CREAM ACT, 1929. RESULTS OF PROSECUTIONS.

THE FOOD AND DRUGS (ADULTERATION) ACT, 1928, THE PUBLIC HEALTH (PRESERVATIVES, ETC., IN FOOD) REGULATIONS, THE PUBLIC HEALTH (CONDENSED MILK) REGULATIONS, 1923 AND 1927, THE PUBLIC HEALTH (DRIED MILK) REGULATIONS, 1923 AND 1927, AND THE ARTIFICIAL CREAM ACT, 1929. RESULTS OF PROSECUTIONS.

Sample.Nature and extent of Adulteration.Result.
47Milk12% deficient in fatDismissed under Probation of Offenders Act, with 40s. Costs.
110Rum54 degrees under proof£2 and £3 3s. Costs.
125Ground Cinnamon5% extraneous mineral matter (sand)Dismissed. Warranty proved.
297Milk3.5% extraneous water£1.
298Milk15.2% extraneous water£5 and £21 Costs.
465Butter45% Margarine£10 and £5 5s. Costs.
465MargarinePackage not branded£5.
450Bismuth Dyspepsia Tablets.32% deficient in Bismuth Oxy-carbonate and 30% in Sodium Bi-carbonate.£5 and £8 8s. Costs.
640Thyme11.5% extraneous mineral matter£1 and £3 3s. Costs.
652Milk26% deficient in fatDismissed. Magistrate satisfied milk was delivered as given by the cow.
721Milk6.9% extraneous water£5 and £3 3s. Costs.
775Milk20% deficient in fatDismissed under Probation of Offenders Act, on payment of £2 5s. Costs.
868Milk12% deficient in fatDismissed. Magistrate satisfied milk was delivered as given by the cow.
969Rum41 degrees under proofDismissed under Probation of Offenders Act, on payment of £2 2s. Costs.

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SUMMARY.
Total Fines £34 0s. 0d. Total Costs £50 9s. 0d.
BACTERIOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL EXAMINATION OF MILK.
SAMPLES TAKEN AT RAILWAY STATIONS.
In accordance with the practice instituted in 1904, a further series of samples of milk
arriving in the City of London from the country was collected at Liverpool Street Station
and submitted to Dr. R. G. Canti, the City Bacteriologist, for bacteriological examination
and for investigation as to the presence of dirt.
A duplicate of each sample was submitted to Mr. A. J. C. Lickorish, F.I.C., the Public
Analyst, for chemical examination.
Forty-eight samples were collected, and these were sent from different farms situated
in the following counties :—
Norfolk 23 Hertfordshire 3
Suffolk 12 Cambridgeshire 2
Essex 8

Table: The following is a copy of the report which Dr. Canti has submitted on the result of his investigations :—

The following is a copy of the report which Dr. Canti has submitted on the result of his investigations :—

'' No. of Sample.Date of inoculation of Guinea Pig.Date of Death.Post Mortem Findings.Result qua Tubercle.
115th SeptKilled 31st OctNormalNegative.
215th SeptKilled 31st OctRight inguinal glands and lumbar glands show abscess formation. Spleen enlarged and tuberculous. Liver tuberculous. Tubercle bacilli demonstrated in pus.Positive.
315th SeptKilled 31st OctNormalNegative.
415th SeptKilled 31st OctNormalNegative.
515th SeptKilled 31st OctNormalNegative.
615th SeptKilled 31st OctNormalNegative.
720th SeptDied 26th SeptAnimal much wastedFrustrate.
820 th SeptKilled 3rd NovNormalNegative.
920th SeptKilled 3rd NovNormalNegative.
1020 th SeptKilled 3rd NovNormalNegative.
1120 th SeptKilled 3rd NovNormalNegative.
1220 th SeptKilled 3rd NovNormalNegative.
1324th SeptKilled 7th NovNormalNegative.
1424th SeptKilled 7th NovNormalNegative.