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 1927
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Shoreditch]
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33
Forty-six samples of margarine were taken, all of which were returned as
genuine.
Of the 63 samples of vinegar taken, four contained 1, 3, 4 and 6 percent, excessive
water respectively. No proceedings were taken.
One sample of mustard was found to contain 5 per cent, of wheat and had traces
of turmeric. No action was taken.
One sample of whisky contained 1 per cent. excessive water. A warning letter
was sent to the vendor.
The informal sample of " Brinite " was a preparation of common salt with some
sodium sulphate and sodium sulphite.
The subjoined table gives a comparison of the results of the work under the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts for the years 1903-1927 inclusive :—
| 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 | Summonses withdrawn on account of warranties.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. | |||||||||||
| 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 | 74 | 69 | 255 | 18 | 6 | 276 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1910 | 578 | 200 | 133 | 23.0 | 65 | ... | 60 | 49 | 93 | 17 | 6 | 279 | 5 | 0 |
| 1911 | 577 | 200 | 149 | 25.8 | 64 | ... | 62 | 58 | 180 | 0 | 6 | 278 | 17 | 6 |
| 1912 | 584 | 190 | 100 | 17.1 | 48 | 1 | 48 | 45 | 172 | 11 | 0 | 281 | 10 | 0 |
| 1913 | 768 | 144 | 132 | 17.1 | 47 | ... | 47 | 42 | 94 | 2 | 6 | 350 | 10 | 0 |
| 1914 | 768 | 143 | 132 | 17.1 | 36 | ... | 36 | 21 | 74 | 6 | 0 | 350 | 10 | 0 |
| 1915 | 768 | 135 | 130 | 17.8 | 43 | ... | 43 | 30 | 63 | 16 | 0 | 350 | 10 | 0 |
| 1916 | 768 | 130 | 144 | 18.7 | 50 | ... | 49 | 36 | 134 | 18 | 0 | 350 | 10 | 0 |
| 1917 | 770 | 129 | 154 | 20.0 | 65 | ... | 65 | 41 | 99 | 12 | 0 | 351 | 5 | 0 |
| 1918 | 724 | 134 | 137 | 17.5 | 54 | 1 | 53 | 37 | 284 | 13 | 0 | 340 | 12 | 6 |
| 1919 | 632 | 155 | 72 | 11.3 | 32 | 1 | 31 | 17 | 137 | 3 | 0 | 316 | 0 | 0 |
| 1920 | 934 | 109 | 69 | 7.4 | 25 | 1 | 24 | 14 | 38 | 3 | 6 | 700 | 10 | 0 |
| 1921 | 1077 | 98 | 58 | 5.4 | 25 | ... | 25 | 20 | 94 | 14 | 0 | 807 | 15 | 0 |
| 1922 | 1068 | 97 | 58 | 5.4 | 20 | ... | 20 | 14 | 31 | 5 | 0 | 700 | 15 | 0 |
| 1923 | 1049 | 101 | 51 | 4.9 | 19 | ... | 19 | 10 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 655 | 12 | 6 |
| 1924 | 1051 | 101 | 37 | 3.5 | 17 | ... | 17 | 11 | 49 | 9 | 0 | 656 | 17 | 6 |
| 1925 | 1073 | 100 | 55 | 5.1 | 16 | 2 | 14 | 5 | 32 | 14 | 6 | 670 | 12 | 6 |
| 1926 | 1058 | 101 | 27 | 2.5 | 3 | ... | 3 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 661 | 5 | 0 |
| 1927 | 1062 | 101 | 20 | 1.9 | 11 | ... | 11 | 10 | 16 | 16 | 0 | 663 | 15 | 0 |
The percentage of samples found to be adulterated is the lowest so far recorded.