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40
SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS.
The reports of the Public Analyst, Dr Stephenson, copies of which are appended
(p. 56) shew that during the year 1901, 269 samples were submitted to him for analysis,
viz.: 211 by inspector Quelch, 28 by inspector Sear, 12 by inspector Forth, 12 by
inspector Jordan, and 6 by inspector Langstone, the latter four inspectors having been
appointed to take samples under the Food and Drugs Act, more especially with a view
to additional work being done in this direction on Saturdays and Sundays. Of the 269
samples, 127 were of milk, 89 of butter, 12 of flour, 12 of ice-cream, 8 of coffee, 6 of
jam, 6 of sweets, 6 of ale, and 3 of cheese. Of the samples of milk, 25 or nearly 20
per cent. were found to be adulterated or not of the proper quality, and proceedings
were taken against the vendors in the Police Court. In addition, 15 samples of milk
were found to contain from 2 to 6 per cent. of water beyond the amount normally
present. In these cases, no proceedings were, on the advice of the analyst, taken. In
24 of the 25 cases the Police Court proceedings were successful, and fines were inflicted
in amounts varying from £15 downwards. In the case which was not successful, the
magistrate dismissed the summons on the ground that the percentage of water added
was too small for him to convict on.
The samples of butter shewed adulteration to the extent of 18 per cent., 17 of
them being found to be adulterated, and in addition two samples contained more than
16 per cent. of water. Convictions were obtained in 15 of the 17 cases taken before
the magistrate, the fine inflicted varying from £20 downwards. In one instance the
summons was dismissed, the magistrate holding that the vendor was covered by
Section 8 of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, the purchase having been completed.
It appeared that the assistant asked for butter, and an article which on analysis turned
out to be margarine was handed to him in paper with the word " margarine " stamped
upon it. The vendor at the request of the assistant subsequently put it into plain
paper. In the other instance the case failed, as the magistrate considered that the
margarine had been served by mistake for butter. The article was sold by a son of the
defendant who happened to be in the shop at the time. He was not authorised to sell
it nor was he accustomed to the business. In a third instance a summons was taken
out but not proceeded with, as an error was discovered in the numbering of the division
of the sample. Three of the eight samples of coffee taken were adulterated with
chicory, and the vendors were convicted and fined. Altogether proceedings were taken
in 45 instances, or with respect to nearly 17 per cent. of the samples taken. Including
the 15 samples of milk containing water beyond the normal, and the two samples of
butter containing water beyond the amount of 16 per cent. of the total number of
samples taken, 23 per cent. were adulterated. The fines inflicted amounted to £132,
and the costs to £28 10s.
SANITARY STAFF.
During the year the Borough Council lost the services of inspector Lindon, who
left on June 22nd to take up a similar position under the Borough Council of
Kensington. Mr. C. Langstone, one of the sanitary inspectors of the Borough of
Southwark was appointed to fill his place, and began his duties in Shoreditch on