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respectively, the remaining 11 had been deprived of from 3.3 to 33.3 per cent. milk
fat. Not one of the 417 samples contained any preservative.
The mean composition of the samples of milk which did not fall below the legal
minimum in either the figures for milk fat or for solids not fat, is rather below that
of the four previous years. On the other hand, extreme values are rare and the
tendency seems to be for the quality to become more unifortn. The mean
composition was :—
Sp. Gr.
Milk-fat.
Solids (not fat).
Total Solids.
1920 1031.5 3.60 873 12.33
Butter.—21(> samples of butter were examined, or which 20 were free trom
preservative. The others contained boric acid varying in amount from 10 to 30
grains per lb. No sample was adulterated.
Margarine.—30 samples were examined. All contained boric acid varying from
12 to 30 grains per lb. No sample was adulterated.
Cream.—13 samples of cream were examined. 5 of these were labelled as
containing boric acid. The amounts were small and ranged from 10 to 12 grains
of preservative per lb.
Coffee.—46 samples were genuine. 1 test sample contained 77 per cent, of
chicory.
Mustard.—30 samples were examined. 2 test samples contained small amounts
of starch.
Suet.—Two test samples contained starch.
Lime Juice.—One test sapiple contained, as preservative, benzoic acid in very
small amount.
Ginger Wine.—Two test samples were examined, one contained 3.9 per cent. of
alcohol by volume, while the other had no less than 9.13 per cent, by volume. The
former also had a small amount of salicylic acid present as preservative.
Raisin Wine.—One test sample contained salicylic acid in small amount.
Miscellaneous Samples.—These are enumerated in the table and require no
special comment.*
BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF MILK AND CANNED MEAT.
During the year 8 samples of milk and 2 tins of canned meat were submitted
to the Council's Bacteriologist (Dr. Foulerton) for examination.
Milk.—Of these 5 were found to be "good," 2 were poor and 1 contained a
small quantity of foreign dirt.
All the reports were submitted to the Public Health Committee and a warning
was only necessary in the case in which the presence of foreign dirt suggested
carelessness in handling the milk.
Canned Meat.—Tins of meat were submitted to Dr. Foulerton in
connection with the investigation into an outbreak of typhoid fever—referred
to later—at Bedford College. The appearance of the tins suggested that the contents
might be contaminated; on examination, however, the meat was found to be sound
and to contain no bacteria capable of setting up the symptoms shown by those
attacked in the course of the outbreak.
*I am indebted to Mr. J. F. F. Rowlands, who was chief assistant to Dr. Wynter Blyth at the
time of his death, for the information contained in this report. Dr. Blyth died on 30th March,
1921, having been Public Analyst from the year 1880. During the years 1880 to 1907 he acted
both as Medical Officer of Health and Public Analyst.