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Of the 57 samples submitted during 1914, one gave as low as 36 per cent. milk fat,
which is quite poor cream; over 38 per cent. were creams containing 50 per cent. or
more milk fat; these may be considered good creams. The average of the whole
worked out as 48 per cent, milk fat—which is a cream of fair quality.
Twenty-five of these samples contained boric acid in quantities from 3i grains
per pound up to 21*7 grains per pound.
In 5 of the 25 preserved creams, the sample was sold not properly labelled.
Butter.— Of 384 samples sold as butter 9 were margarine—mostly informal
samples.
In none of these samples was the water excessive, but over 85% contained boric
acid.
204 samples contained boric acid from 10 to 20 grains per lb.
118 „ „ „ 20 to 30 „ „
5 „ „ over 30 „ „
The maximum amount was 31 grains per lb., which is just 4 grains below the
permissible limit.
Drugs.—Twenty-one samples of various drugs were examined and found up to
standard. The publication of the new Pharmacopoeia (1914) is important from the
view of administration of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, the more especially as
this edition has been completely revised and a large number of new standards
for purity settled.
For example, in over 90 medicinal salts or preparations, it is laid down that
they must not contain arsenic above a certain minimum, the limit varying from
1000 parts per million for antimonium sulphuratum, down to 0.2 for liquor
magnesii carbonatis.
How far the limits and tests for purity will hold good in the courts remains
to be seen, but it is obvious that a public analyst, examining a drug enumerated
and described in the British Pharmacopoeia, and finding that the official tests
prove that the drug is not in conformity with the Pharmacopoeia, will be justified
in certifying to adulteration.
The remaining samples as set out in the annexed table were of a miscellaneous
character and with the exception of 5 samples of coffee, were genuine.