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
Stepney 1912
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Compared with the previous 10 years, the adulteration, &c., was as follows—
| YEAR. | Number of Samples Examined. | Number Adulterated. | Number of Prosecutions. | Percentage of Adulteration. | .Percentage of Prosecutions. | Amount secured in Fines. | Average Fines. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 1187 | 260 | 118 | 21.9 | 9.9 | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. |
| 220 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 17 | 4 | ||||||
| 1903 | 1171 | 214 | 88 | 18.3 | 7.5 | 175 | 18 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 11 |
| 1904 | 1191 | 190 | 58 | 15.9 | 4.9 | 131 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| 1905 | 1176 | 187 | 76 | 15.9 | 6.5 | 137 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 2 |
| 1906 | 1147 | 241 | 122 | 21.0 | 10.6 | 252 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 |
| 1907 | 1208 | 219 | 77 | 18.1 | 6.4 | 129 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 13 | 6 |
| 1908 | 1210 | 190 | 84 | 15.7 | 7.0 | 301 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 8 |
| 1909 | 1203 | 140 | 75 | 11.6 | 6.2 | 342 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 11 | 3 |
| 1910 | 1222 | 155 | 75 | 12.7 | 6.1 | 298 | 16 | 0 | 3 | 19 | 8 |
| 1911 | 1257 | 139 | 73 | 11.1 | 5.8 | 315 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 6 | 4 |
| 1912 | 1249 | 162 | 79 | 13.0 | 6.3 | 184 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Average for 10 years | 1197 | 193 | 85 | 16.2 | 7. 1 | 230 | 9 | 10 | 2 | 16 | 3 |
In addition there were 7 prosecutions for infringement of the Margarine Act, and
1 for refusing to sell, resulting in £12 s.7 fine and £6 18s. costs being obtained for
the former, and £10 10s. fine and £3 7s. costs for the latter.
Sunday Samples.
118 Samples were obtained on 21 Sundays, 117 Milks and 1 Butter; 18 Milks
were adulterated, and 7 prosecutions followed. The adulteration oI Sunday milks
was at the rate of 15*2 per cent.
Unofficial Samples.
124 Samples purchased informally by the Inspectors were examined. These
consisted of:—7 Milks, 110 Butters, 1 Cocoa, 1 Self.raising Flour, 1 Coffee,
1 Ground Ginger, 1 Dried Eggs, 1 Dripping, 1 Saffron. Of these, 64 Samples, or
51'6 per cent., were adulterated, 62 Butters and 2 Milks.
40 Samples were examined for the General Public, consisting of:—25 Milks,
7 Butters, 1 Lemon Cheese, 4 Milk Powders, 1 Lemon Squash, 1 Nut Lard,
1 Baking Fat. Of these, 6 Samples or 150 per cent., were adulterated, 4 Milks
and 2 Butters.
All Samples of Milk and Butter were tested for Preservatives. No Preservatives
were found in the Milk.
4 Samples of Butter, informally purchased, contained Boron Preservatives in
excess of the legal limit.