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133.
Report by the Public Analyst (Mr. Cecil H. Cribb,
B.Sc. (Lond.), F.I.C.).
It is satisfactory to record that the number of
samples of milk found to be adulterated during the year
under review is considerably less than in any of the
three preceding years, and in no ease was the extent of
the adulteration other than trivial.
The number of samples of spirits adulterated, is
as usual, high but in only one case was the amount of
dilution serious.
As the spirit merchant is allowed to bring the spirit
down to the legal limit on his own premises and he has
no very accurate method at his disposal for determining
the alcoholic strength, the minor offences of this kind
which occur are not of a wilful nature.
One sample purhased as Coffee was found to be
"Coffee and Chicory." This may have been due to
accident, as was almost certainly the case in the vendor
of Cayenne Pepper who had poured a little Curry
Powder on to the top of the Pepper. An official sample
from the same vendor proved to be entirely satisfactory.
Six samples of Vinegar bought as Malt Vinegar
had not the composition of Malt Vinegar.
A sample of Cider about which a complaint was
made, had an unusually dark colour. This was found
to be due to the presence of iron—in amount far in excess
of the usual traces. Further enquiry elicited the information
that an iron spanner had dropped accidentally
into the barrel.
A number of drugs were received during the year
which proved to be adulterated. Whether the adulteration
was intentional or not it is not easy to decide. A
sample of Magnesium Oxide (i.e. bought as such) was