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 1921
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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78
Sausage.
Nineteen samples of sausage were analysed, of which four, or 21.1 per
cent. were adulterated. In each case the adulteration consisted of the
presence of an excessive amount of boric acid. Particulars are given in table N.
Table N.
| Number. | Boric acid present grains per lb. | Action. |
|---|---|---|
| A35 | 35 | Informal sample. Same vendor as E33. |
| A28 | 97 | Informal sample. Two subsequent samples from the same vendor were genuine. |
| E33 | 24½ | Vendor cautioned. |
| L93 | 35 | Fined £5 0s. 0d. with £2 2s. 0d. costs. The vendor was a wholesaler and three retailers whom he had supplied had been convicted and fined in another borough. |
Sausage should not contain more than 17½ grains per lb. of boric acid.
The excess in the case of A 28 was very serious. As subsequent samples
were genuine this excess was probably due to the sausage-meat having
been badly mixed.
Spirits.
Seventeen samples of spirits were analysed, these being made up of ten
samples of whisky and seven of gin. Six, or 35.3 per cent. were found to be
adulterated. Particulars are given in table O.
Table O.
| Number. | Nature. | Adulteration and action. |
|---|---|---|
| E62 | Whisky | Informal sample, contained 9 per cent. of excess water. Same vendor as E65. |
| E65 | Whisky | Contained 1½ per cent. of excess water. The vendor was cautioned. |
| E61 | Whisky | Informal sample. The sample was served from a bottle on which the purchaser saw the figure "43" and other matter, in small print which he could not read. It was submitted as whisky of 43° U.P., and was found to contain 9 per cent. of excess water. Same vendor as E64. |