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113
ties as a preservative. In two of the cases, you may remember,
the analysis was contested, but on referring the samples to
Somerset House your analyst's certificate was confirmed. The
action had a good result inasmuch as during the year under
review in no case was this preservative used. In a recent case,
however, in another district, a prosecution was instituted for the
addition of one part of formalin to 10,000 parts of milk. Here
another magistrate expressed astonishment that the action had
been taken for the addition of so small an amount and the case
was dismissed. As a matter of fact the amount, although
sounding so minute, was a very large one, formalin being an
exceedingly powerful agent, and when used, even in much
smaller quantities in milk, seriously inhibits digestion, a condition
which is obviously a danger to infants who are relying upon
milk for their sole nourishment.
A definite prohibition of its use by law would undoubtedly
end this practice.
Additional Powers for obtaining Samples of Milk.—We
have reason for believing that occasionally the inspectors have
been served from a special can kept in the cart of the milk
vendor for that purpose, and on the inspector demanding a
sample from other churns or vessels in the cart, he has been
informed either that they were empty or that the milk was not
for sale.
The inspector should be enabled to obtain a sample from
any vessel which he has cause to suspect contains milk. During
the year we received complaints in regard to itinerant vendors
whom we suspected were adulterating their supplies. The
samples purchased were served from a small can, and in two
cases the analysis showed that a large amount of cream had
been addei to the milk.