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The figures for 1929 are, to some extent, reassuring as it seems as if for a
moment a halt has been called to the progressive deterioration in quality of the
loose creams. As for the tinned creams there has been a distinct recovery from
the low figure of 1927. One would like to ieel that the St. Marylebone reports for
that and the subsequent year had something to do with the improvement in the
quality. At any rate the fact remains that the quality of both the loose and
tinned creams shows a definite improvement.
Metals in foods (tinned or otherwise).—In ordinary tinned foods it is the
exception to find one that has not become to some extent contaminated with the
metal of the container. So long as this is small in amount and that lead or other
recognised poison is absent no action is generally taken. On the other hand this
year has revealed the somewhat disturbing fact that certain makes of household
sugar contain well marked quantities of tin. Now that attention has been drawn
to its presence, it is to be hoped that steps will be taken to do away with the use
of tin chloride in the manufacture of certain classes of sugar.
The presence of small amounts of preservative has been prohibited in milk,
cream, butter, etc., yet other foods, e.g., sugars, tinned goods and cheese
wrapped in tin foil may contain appreciable amounts of metal without any legal
penalty being incurred.
Various chemicals and drugs of the British Phamacopoeia have limiting
values for the contaminating bodies most likely to be found in them. But these
drugs whose purity is so properly and carefully protected are only taken in
medicinal doses while foods taken in large quantities have no limitations set to
such metallic impurities as are so often found.
In this country where tinned meats and fruits are so largely used and where
the supervision of the health of the public rightly holds first place it would seem
most desirable that some move should be made to prevent the members of the
community becoming sedimentary metallic deposits of ores.
Honey.—-One sample of Honey was a mixture of honey and invert sugar.
Butter.—It is a rare thing to find a butter adulterated in these days yet of the
samples examined one contained half its weight of margarine. In no instance
was any preservative or added colouring matter found.
STATISTICAL.
BIRTHS.
Registration.—The number of births registered during 1929 was 1,233*,
being 84 less than in 1928. Of the children born, 643 were boys and 590 girls.
The birth rate per 1,000 of the population was 11.9, as against 12.6 in 1928.
The rates in the several registration sub-districts of the borough were :—
All Souls, 9.4; St. Mary, 9.7; Christ Church, 15.8, St. John, 12.3.
Notifications.—The total number of notifications received during the year
under the Notification of Births Act, 1907, was 3,769; Live births, 3,578; Still
births, 191. Failures to notify within 36 hours of birth, as required, were comparatively
few. In such cases as there was failure, a perfectly reasonable
explanation was forthcoming, and it was not considered necessary to take
proceedings against any of the parties.
* This figure is exclusive of births occurring in the Borough to persons usually non-resident
therein, but includes 207 births which occurred outside the district, and which have been transferred
as belonging to St. Marylebone :—
Legitimate Males 84
,, Females 81
Illegitimate Males 23
,, Females 19