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
Marylebone 1909
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
This page requires JavaScript
| Articles submitted for Analysis | State whether the sample was submitted to the Analyst by an Officer acting under the direction of a Local Authority under Section 13 of Act, and. if so, the name of such Authority. | Result of Analysis; showing whether the sample was Genuine or Adulterated, and if Adulterated what were the nature and extent of the Adulteration. | The sum paid in respect of the Analysis. | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 cheeses | Food Inspector | Genuine. | ||
| 1 coffee 4 | Do. | Do. | A test sample. | |
| 2 Gregory powders | Do. | Do. | ||
| 1 do. | Do. | Adulterated. No. 2650 contained 56 per cent. instead of HO per cent. of magnesia. | No. 2650. See footnote. | |
| 1 compound liquorice powder | Do. | Genuine. | ||
| 4 creams . | Do. | Do. | ||
Note.—Proceedings were not taken in these cases in consequence of the Inspector having been removed
from his office in acccordance with Article 10 of the Sanitary Officers (London) Order, 1891.
SUMMARY. Total number of Number
Samples Analysed. Adulterated.
1st Quarter 182 12
2nd „ 109 10
3rd „ 224 8
4th „ 241 11
Totals 756 41
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST ON WORK DONE UNDER
THE SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACTS.
The total samples submitted during the year was 756; of these 41 or
5.4 per cent. were certified as adulterated.
Milk.-—As usual the greater number of the samples sent were those of
milk. 403 samples of milk were dealt with; of these 23 or 5.7 per cent. were
adulterated; this bald statement is below the truth, for the common practice of
adding separated milk to new milk and thus indirectly lowering its quality to
the low official standard of 3 per cent. fat and 8.5 per cent. other milk solids,
is widely prevalent. If therefore the samples which just attain the official limit
be added to those which were certified adulterated, it then may be said that
14.5 per cent. of the milk samples were either poor, watered, or deprived of fat.
In the 25 samples certified as adulterated the highest amount of water
added was 12.5 per cent.; the highest amount of fat abstracted 13.4 per cent.;
45 samples of milk were artificially coloured, an objectionable practice and
absolutely unnecessary. It is gratifying to be able to state that in very few