London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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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
Marylebone 1934
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for St. Marylebone, Metropolitan Borough]
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| Serial Number | Article | Whether Formal, Informal, or Private | Nature of Adulteration or Irregularity | Observations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Rum | Informal | Contained 0.5 grain of tin per pint. | |
| 142 | Fino French Beans (Cirio brand) | Informal | Contained 2.4 grains of tin per lb. and 0.0047 grain of lead per lb. | Internally the tin was crudely finished and its metallic joint was soldered for a quarter of its depth with a lead-containing solder which showed every evidence of being attacked by the contents of the tin. |
| 329 | Mustard | Informal | 4.0 % of added starch grains. | |
| 896 | Tomato Puree | Informal | 1.12 grains of tin and 0.06 grains of copper per lb. | |
| 1,018 | Raisin Wine (Non-alcoholic) | Informal | A synthetic wine containing 0.66 per cent. of alcohol by volume and coloured with a dye which is not present in the natural raisin. |
The sum paid in respect of each analysis was 12s. 6d. per sample.
The Public Analyst (Mr. J. F. F. Rowland) comments, as follows, with regard
to various articles examined:—
Milk.—187 samples were examined. None proved to be adulterated.
The average composition of the milks taken during the year, as compared with those of the two previous years, is set out in the subjoined table :—
| Year | Sp. Gr. | Total Solids. | Fat. | Solids not Fat. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | 1031.3 | 12.2 | 3.57 | 8.63 |
| 1933 | 1031.4 | 12.2 | 3.50 | 8.70 |
| 1934 | 1031.5 | 12.17 | 3.46 | 8.71 |
Creams.—27 samples of loose cream and 7 samples of tinned cream were
analysed. None was adulterated. The average fat content of each kind was as
follows:—
Fat. Preservatives.
Loose Creams = 43.53% nil.
Tinned Creams = 26.87% nil.
Rum.— The only sample taken during the year contained 0.5 grain of tin per
pint.
With regard to tinned or canned foods it is generally assumed that anything
over 2 grains of tin per lb. is undesirable if not harmful. However, in the case
of foods, it is improbable that an individual would take day after day and month
after month such an amount of tinned goods that a constant rate of ingestion of
tin would result, but in the case of an habitual rum addict who takes a regular but
excessive amount of rum daily the amount of tin ingested through tinned foods