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
Acton 1947
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Acton]
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The Middlesex County Council are the sampling authority in this area, and the Chief Officer of. the Public. Control Department has supplied the figures appended below of samples taken during the year:—
| Article | Taken | Adulterated |
|---|---|---|
| Milk | 119 | — |
| Milk, sterilised | 3 | — |
| Milk, homogenised | 2 | — |
| Ammoniated tincture of quinine | 1 | — |
| Castor Oil | 1 | — |
| Cooked Meats | 2 | — |
| Fish Paste | 2 | — |
| Gin | 11 | 2 |
| Imitation Black Walnut Flavour | 1 | — |
| Iron Tonic Tablets | 2 | 1 |
| Lemon Cheese | 1 | — |
| Meat Pies | 2 | — |
| Meat Savouries | 1 | — |
| Rum | 2 | 1 |
| Sausages | 4 | — |
| Sausages, cooked | 15 | — |
| Sausage Meat | 8 | — |
| Sulphur Ointment | 1 | — |
| Whale Meat Sausages | 1 | — |
| Whisky | 9 | 2 |
| 188 | 6 |
One sample of Gin, one of Rum and two of Whisky contained
10%, 6.9%, 9.2% and 10% of added water, respectively, for which
proceedings were instituted resulting in fines and costs amounting
to £43. 10s. 0d. One informal sample of Gin was found not to be
normal Gin but appeared to be contaminated with Witch Hazel.
Efforts to secure an official sample similarly contaminated have, so
far, been unsuccessful. An informal sample of Iron Tonic Tablets
was 38.7% deficient in ferrous iron but a subsequent official sample
was genuine.