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 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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Details of samples shown in the above table to contain preservative are
given under the respective headings in those cases where an offence had been
committed.
Table B shows the number of samples taken under the Act with the percentage
of adulteration, and also the total number of samples examined during
the past ten years.
Table B.
| Year. | Samples taken under the Act. | Number Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | Bact. Examinations | Miscellaneous Samples | Total Samples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 1,292 | 42 | 3.3 | - | 55 | 1,347 |
| 1928 | 1,528 | 68 | 4.5 | - | 29 | 1,557 |
| 1929 | 1,537 | 63 | 4.1 | — | 72 | 1,609 |
| 1930 | 1,518 | 35 | 2.3 | 1 | 83 | 1,602 |
| 1931 | 1,488 | 43 | 2.9 | 46 | 173 | 1,707 |
| 1932 | 1,546 | 48 | 3.1 | 38 | 185 | 1,769 |
| 1933 | 1,513 | 37 | 2.4 | 20 | 112 | 1,645 |
| 1934 | 1,614 | 74 | 4.6 | - | 111 | 1,725 |
| 1935 | 1,630 | 139 | 8.5 | - | 109 | 1,739 |
| 1936 | 1,575 | 125 | 7.9 | — | 241 | 1,816 |
There has been a slight decrease in the percentage of adulteration. Of
the samples taken under the Act, 1,448 consisted of foods and of these 116, or
8 per cent., were adulterated; of the remaining 127 samples consisting of
drugs 9, or 7.1 per cent., were adulterated.. The increase in the number of
miscellaneous samples is very considerable. Of these samples, 96 were
examined for metallic contamination, involving the use of lengthy processes.
Legal
Proceedings.
Offences were committed in 162 cases. These were dealt with as shown below :—
| Adulterated. | Other offences. | Total. | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Formal | Proceedings | *53 | 17 | 70 |
| Caution | 33 | — | 33 | |
| No action | 12 | — | 12 | |
| Informal | 28 | — | 28 | |
| *126 | 17 | 143 | ||
Fines and costs totalled £219.
* Including one case from the year 1935.
Milk.
984 samples of milk were analysed. Of these 85, or 8.6 per cent., were
adulterated.
In addition, 7 "Appeal to cow" samples and 5 samples, taken in the
Borough of Hackney at the request of the Borough of Stepney, were analysed.
Table C shows the number of samples of milk examined and the percentages
of adulteration during the last ten years,