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REPORT, 1893-94. 129
Tea.—Since this article was examined in bond it
has become rare to find an adulterated sample. Of the
6 samples purchased all were genuine.
Lard used to be adulterated with cotton-seed oil,
or water, and is now frequently mixed with beef stearin.
None of these forms of adulteration, however, were
found in the 18 samples purchased during the past
year in this district.
Spirits.—Only 8 samples were procured. They
were all up to the legal limit of strength, and free from
foreign ingredients.
Pastry.—An anonymous letter was forwarded
through the London County Council complaining of
some pastry sold at a certain shop. Samples were
obtained and found to be pure and wholesome. Later,
however, one of the Sanitary Inspectors visited the
shop and found a number of rotten eggs ready for
making into pastry. The shop-owner was summoned
and fined for their possession. Probably on the
previous occasion the eggs were good, though not at
the first time when the pastry was accused of making
a child very ill. A visit to the bakehouse disclosed the
cause.
The total amount for fines ordered to be paid into
the Vestry's account was £26 8s. The average fine,
therefore, imposed on each fraudulent vendor was
13.s l0d. It is pretty clear that a very moderate