London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Shoreditch 1909
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
This page requires JavaScript
57
the summonses were dismissed with three guineas costs in each case against the
Borough Council. In the third instance the summons was withdrawn.
Of the ten samples of lard, one contained 7.1 per cent. of added water—
proceedings were taken against the vendor, but a warranty was produced and the
case was dismissed.
The sample of separated milk contained 3 per cent. of added water and traces
of artificial colouring matter. No proceedings were taken.
The samples of pepper, cheese, mustard, tea dust and dripping were returned as
genuine.
During the year there were two cases of obstruction, and proceedings
were instituted in the one case for refusal to sell milk and in the other for refusing to
serve margarine which were asked for. In each case the defendants were convicted
and fined £10 in the case of the former and £1 with 23s. costs in the latter.
The subjoined table shows a comparison of the results cf the work under the Food and Drugs Acts during the years
| 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 | Summonses withdrawn on account of warranties.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. | Fines and Costs. | Amount 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 |
| 1904 | 612 | 189 | 110 | 17.9 | 56 | 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 | 23.4 | 44 | 2 | 42 | 34 | 106 | 12 | 6 | 260 | 0 | 0 |
| 1907 | 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 |
| 1909 | 570 | 200 | 92 | 16.1 | 76 | 2 | 74 | 69 | 255 | 18 | 6 | 276 | 5 | 0 |
Included in the figures for 1909 in the above table are those relating to the two
cases of obstruction mentioned. The marked increase as regards the number of
prosecutions results from infringements of the law relating to the sale of margarine
and mixtures of coffee with chicory.
HAIRDRESSERS AND BARBERS' SHOPS.
During the year some 77 premises occupied by barbers and hairdressers were
under the observation of the Sanitary Inspectors. Sanitary notices were served
in connection with 23 of them for defects in the sanitary arrangements and for
other insanitary conditions existing on the premises. The notices were all
complied with.