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was purchased for butter, just as it had been supplied to her by a shopkeeper in a large
way of business in the district of a neighbouring Sanitary Authority. The case was
adjourned, and, on instructions from the magistrate, Mr. Quelch visited the shop from
which the woman had been supplied and obtained samples of butter and milk. These
were submitted to the Analyst for the district in which they had been purchased, and
were found to be adulterated. The offender was summoned and convicted, being fined £20,
with five guineas costs in the case of the butter, and £1 with £1 12s. 6d. costs in the
case of the milk, and the summons against the woman was dismissed. In this case the
real offender was undoubtedly the one who was punished. In these prosecutions the
penalties were not recoverable, but the costs came to the Borough Council.
Altogether, of the samples taken, without including the ten samples of milk containing
more than the normal amount of water, 33, or nearly 16 per cent., were found to
be adulterated, or not of the nature, substance, and quality demanded by the purchaser,
proceedings were instituted in 29 instances, convictions were obtained in 25,
fines were inflicted amounting to £129 13s., and costs were allowed to the amount of
£29 2s.
In accordance with the requirements of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, 1899, the
necessary steps were taken for the registration of wholesale dealers in margarine and
margarine cheese. There are at present in Shoreditch 1 manufacturer and 4 wholesale
dealers in margarine.
SANITARY STAFF.
The arrangements for the performance of the duties respecting cowsheds, dairies,
and milk-shops, slaughter-houses, and offensive businesses, transferred by the London
Government Act, 1899, to the Borough Councils, came under consideration towards
the end of the year. Upon the recommendation of the Public Health Committee, it
was resolved that these duties should be distributed amongst the five district inspectors,
for each inspector to carry out those relating to his own district.
Early in the year the Public Health Department lost the services of Mr. H. C.
Rodford, who was appointed chief clerk in the Public Health Department, under the
Poplar Board of Works. Mr. A. Hayes, the junior clerk, was promoted to fill his
place, and Mr. G Pratt was appointed junior clerk.
Owing to ill-health, inspector Quelch was absent from duty for several weeks,
during the latter half of the year. The work in his district was as far as possible
undertaken by the chief sanitary inspector, and the inspectors of the adjoining districts,
Messrs. Firth and Lindon.