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43
Analnsf's Reports.
TO MIDSUMMER, 1887.
Analytical Laboratory,
Vestry Hall, Harrow Road, W.,
June 30th, 1887.
To the Vestry of the Parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal Green.
Chairman and Gentlemen,—During the quarter just concluded
a total of 23 samples has been submitted to me for analysis by your
Inspectors. All these were samples of milk, of which no less than 10
were adulterated: the adulteration varying from the abstraction of
one-third of the cream to tho addition of 25 per cent. of water. No
action was taken by the Sanitary Committee in the case of the
skimmed sample, but in all the others prosecutions were undertaken
and, with one exception, were carried to a successful issue. In one
case the defendant pleaded that no contract had been produced in
Court to show that he had undertaken to supply pure milk. The
Magistrate ruled that the omission to produce this contract was fatal
to the case, and dismissed it, without, however, imposing any costs
upon the Vestry. In all the other cases fines ranging from 10s. to
£10 were imposed on the vendors.
A total of £26 10s. was paid into the Vestry's account as fines,
besides costs.
It is somewhat unsatisfactory to find this milk adulteration so
rampant—no less than 43 per hundred of the samples taken by tho
Inspectors proved to be adulterated. The injury inflicted by this
wholesale watering of milk upon infants and invalids is difficult to
estimate.
Vigorous means should be taken to remedy this state of affairs.
I have the honour to be
Your obedient servant,
ALF. W. STOKES, F.C.S., F.I.C.,
Public Analyst.