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
Shoreditch 1903
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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They refer to the year 1902, and from them the subjoined figures are quoted to shew the position of Shoreditch for that year in this respect.
| Borough. | Percentage of the total number of samples taken found to be adulterated. | Percentage of the number cl milk samples taken found to be adulterated. |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest. | ||
| St. Marylebone | 3.9 | 6.9 |
| Woolwich | 4.1 | 4.8 |
| Hampstead | 5.4 | 4.4 |
| Hammersmith | 6.0 | 5.0 |
| Highest. | ||
| Shoreditch | 25.3 | 29.9 |
| Hackney | 23.8 | 33.2 |
| Stepney | 21.9 | 30.4 |
| St. Pancras | 20.7 | 32.1 |
Of the total number of samples taken in the Metropolis 11.9 percent, were found
to be adulterated.
These figures show that Shoreditch, in 1902, occupied the unenviable position of
being the district in the Metropolis in which adulteration of food generally appeared
to be most rampant.
The samples taken in Shoreditch during 1902 numbered 281, and were at the rate
of 1 for every 420 persons living in the Borough, as compared with an average of 1
for every 253 persons in the Metropolis.
The following figures compare the results of the work during 1902 and 1903 :—
| Year. | Number of Samples. | Number of persons in the Borough to each sample. | Number of samples adulterated. | Percentage of samples adulterated. | Number of prosecutions instituted. | Summonses withdrawn on account of warranties. | Prosecutions proceeded with. | Number of successful prosecutions. | Pines and Costs. | Amounts paid to Public Analyst. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £ | s. | d | £ | s. | d | |||||||||
| 1902 | 281 | 420 | 71 | 25.3 | 54 | 2 | 52 | 48 | 117 | 9 | 0 | 140 | 10 | 0 |
| 1903 | 707 | 166 | 112 | 15.8 | 60 | 5 | 55 | 51 | 173 | 11 | 6 | 353 | 10 | 0 |
With regard to the samples of milk, whereas 154 taken in 1902 showed 29.9 per
oent, adulterated, those taken in 1903 showed 22.0 per cent., a substantial reduction,