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269
but that there is a large amount of adulteration external
to the Parish, defrauding not only the consumers but also
the retailers. These cases bristle with technical points, and
extreme care has to be exercised on the part of the Inspector
to avoid one or other of the numerous pitfalls standing in
the way of a conviction. In a recent case, in the Parish of
Islington, the summons was dismissed on account of some
minor technicality, but on Appeal was remitted to the
Magistrate for consideration, and a conviction followed.
(Ralfe v. Thompson.) In this particular case the Parish of
Islington was suffering from the frauds perpetrated on it
by a vendor at Newcastle-on-Tyne.
To put a stop to this external adulteration it would be
as well if the number of samples taken of Milk in transit
could be largely increased.
To diminish the internal adulteration, the only method
apart from endeavouring either directly or indirectly to
bring influence to bear on the Magistrates to inflict really
deterrent fines, is to take many more samples, in the hope
that recurrent small fines may have the effect that would
be produced by individual large fines.
During the last Session of Parliament a Bill was
introduced by Dr. Cameron and others to amend the Sale of
Food and Drugs Act, &c.
The above Act certainly requires amendment in certain
directions, but the particular Bill introduced for that