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The five samples of tinned fish were unsatisfactory. The interior of the
tins showed considerable corrosion and all contained excessive quantities of
tin, namely, 5.3, 2.5, 4.2, 4.0 and 4.2 grains of tin to the pound, respectively.
The presence of tin in quantities approaching 2 grains of tin to the pound
indicates that the sample is potentially deleterious to health.
Sweets received from the Metropolitan Police, and of which one mauve
sweet was stated to have caused painful burning in a woman's throat, consisted
of cachous of various colours. These were found to be free from any
poisonous ingredients or impurities. The mauve cachous were rather strongly
flavoured with ginger, but were quite harmless.
Four samples of Jonathan apples were examined for arsenic. Arsenic
was found on the skin but not in the flesh of a number of the apples examined.
As the amount of arsenic on each apple showed considerable variation, the
total arsenic in the whole apple was estimated. In no case did the proportion
of arsenic per pound for any apple exceed one hundredth grain of
arsenic per pound. None of the remaining miscellaneous samples calls for
comment.
I wish here to acknowledge the valuable help given me in the Laboratory
by Miss J. Brown.
I have the honour to be,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Your obedient Servant,
DOUGLAS HENVILLE.
Borough Analyst.
Chemical Laboratory,
43, White Horse Street, E.l.
April, 1926.