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39
ance with our knowledge, that we can judge, with any accuracy,
from the stale article as to the condition of the fresh.
There has been a great improvement in the quality of milks in
the last quarter, as indeed there ought to be; nevertheless it is a
pleasing fact. Nearly 29 percent. of prosecuted cases may be
still considered very large.
Of sixteen Butters, three were found to consist either mainly,
or entirely, of fat other than butter fat. Butter is very superior to
the article that was sold even five years ago.
Only one Coffee has been examined; it contained much chicory.
Breads, two in number, were of excellent quality. They were
thoroughly clean, well aerated, and completely free from any suspicion
of alum. Neither did the microscope reveal a trace of any
foreign admixture.
A sample of Flour was genuine, although somewhat discolored.
Of Spirits, sixteen samples have been analysed. Five of the
Gins were below the Government standard. One sample of Rum
contained 15 percent. of water above the standard.
Nine samples of Beers and Porters stood fairly the test of
analysis. None of them contained excess of the chlorides of
sodium and potassium, the latter derived from the sugar employed.
Three Peppers and a Mustard were all good of their kind.
A Salad Oil was not olive oil; I believe it was cotton oil. But
as I find cotton oil much commended, and as I could not say for
certain that it was cotton-seed oil, and as olive oil had not been
demanded, I could not give a Certificate of Prosecution.
Of Drugs, five have been analysed; comprising Bromide of
Potassium, Iodide of Potassium, Calomel, Glycerine, and Chloroform.
All were good of their kind.
The Certificates are all in the hands of our Inspector.
I remain, Gentlemen,
Yours faithfully,
ALBERT J. BERNAYS.
St. Thomas's Hospital,
Midsummer, 1884.