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18
PUBLIC ANALYST'S REPORT.
TO THE ST. SAVIOUR'S DISTRICT BOARD OF
WORKS.
Gentlemen,
During the year that is passed, I have examined 111
articles, besides 16 in duplicate, making 127 in all.
Of this number, 49 have been Milks. I have examined a
larger number than I at first intended; but, in the last quarter,
when milk should have been at its best, there has been an
increase from 10 to 36 per cent. in adulteration by water. In
all other respects there has been a maintenance in the improvement
which I have pointed out in previous reports.
In several cases where the admixture with water has amounted
to 5 or 6 per cent, the sending for a further sample has almost
always worked a cure. As far as this District is concerned, there
is no reason for altering the standards accepted by the Society
of Public Analysts; they were based, as far as milk was concerned
upon some 20,000 analyses, and the care with which these
standards were fixed, is justified by the results.
"With reference to skimming, the habit seems inveterate. I
would venture to repeat, that unless well-to-do people will supply
themselves with cream from their own milk, they generally
obtain it from their poorer neighbours. The cream that is stripped
is generally made up with skim-milk, and this is the chief
reason why so-called fresh milk so soon sours.