Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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sale of adulterated butter amounted to £62, which was equivalent to 16.3
per cent, of the maximum penalties to which the defendants were liable, as
compared with 15.6 per cent, in 1907, 12 per cent, in 1906, 17 in 1905, 10 in
1904, 18 in 1903, and 17 in 1902. Including the costs allowed, which amounted
to £3 2s. 6d., the amounts imposed by the magistrate averaged £4 6s. 10d.,
as compared with £4 6s. 7d. in 1907, £5 3s. Od. in 1906, £1 1s. Od. in 1905,
£3 Is. Od. in 1904, £4 10s. Od. in 1903, and £4 10s. Od. in 1902. In one
instance the defendant had previously been convicted three times, he was,
therefore, liable to a penalty of £100 ; £15 was the penalty inflicted.
Eight samples of margarine were taken. Four were sold in unstamped
wrappers in contravention of the Act. Proceedings were taken in these
cases. In one case a fine of 10s. was imposed, and in the other three there
were no fines but costs were allowed the Council. The fine amounted to
0.3 per cent, of the maximum penalties to which the defendants were liable.
Including the costs the amounts recovered averaged £1 4s. 6d.
Of the five samples of cheese one was found to be margarine cheese,
which was sold in contravention of the Act. Proceedings were taken and the
vendor was convicted, a penalty of £3 being inflicted.
Of the four samples of cocoa one was adulterated, and the vendor was
fined £3.
Of the three samples of sausages two contained boric acid not exceeding
2 grains per pound.
One of the samples of kidneys taken showed traces of boric acid.
The sample of separated milk contained 16 per cent, of added water.
The vendor was fined £4.
The samples of mustard, coffee, pepper, lard, arrowroot, olive oil, flour, icecream,
carbonate of soda, and carbonate of soda, and carbonate of potash were
returned as genuine.
The subjoined table shows a comparison of the results of the work under the Food and Drugs Acts during the years 1902.8 inclusive:—
Tear. | 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 | Summonses withdrawn on account of warranties, &c. | Prosecutions proceeded with. | Number of successful prosecutions. | Fines and Costs. | Amount paid to Public Analyst. | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
£ | s. | d. | £ | 8. | d. | |||||||||
1902 | 281 | 420 | 71 | 253 | 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 |
1904 | 612 | 189 | 110 | 17.9 | 55 | 6 | 50 | 46 | 128 | 5 | 0 | 306 | 0 | 0 |
1905 | 536 | 215 | 98 | 18.2 | 57 | 2 | 51 | 47 | 233 | 18 | 0 | 267 | 0 | 0 |
1906 | 520 | 224 | 122 | 234 | 44 | 2 | 42 | 34 | 106 | 12 | 6 | 260 | 0 | 0 |
190? | 519 | 223 | 99 | 19.0 | 36 | 4 | 32 | 27 | 67 | 14 | 0 | 259 | 10 | 0 |
1908 | 580 | 200 | 92 | 15.8 | 45 | .. | 45 | 39 | 117 | 10 | 0 | 290 | 0 | 0 |