London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Stepney 1924
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Stepney]
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TABLE A.
| Number of Samples. | Number Genuine. | Number Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milk | 895 | 868 | 27 | 3.0 |
| Margarine | 145 | 142 | 3 | 2.1 |
| Butter | 140 | 137 | 3 | 2.1 |
| Coffee | 24 | 22 | 2 | 8.3 |
| Cream & Preserved Cream | 21 | 20 | 1 | 4.8 |
| Pepper | 15 | 15 | - | — |
| Vinegar | 14 | 14 | - | - |
| Prescriptions under the National Health Insurance Act | 13 | 12 | 1 | 7.7 |
| Sponge Cakes | 1 | 12 | - | - |
| Condensed Milk | 10 | 10 | - | - |
| Ammoniated Tincture of Quinine | 9 | 9 | - | - |
| Epsom Salts | 7 | 7 | - | - |
| Sweet Spirit of Nitre | 7 | 6 | 1 | 14.3 |
| Baking Powder | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Glycerine | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Milk of Sulphur | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Purified Borax | 6 | 5 | 1 | 16.7 |
| Ground Ginger | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Cheese | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Self Raising Flour | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Sausage | 6 | 6 | - | - |
| Spirits | 6 | 4 | 2 | 33.3 |
Table B shows the number of samples analysed and the number found to
be adulterated during the past ten years.
Table B.
Year.
Number of
Samples.
Number
Adulterated.
Percentape
Adulterated.
1915
1,213
154
12.7
1916
1,202
147
12.2
1917
1,123
120
10.6
1918
1,124
123
10.9
1919
1,175
70
6.0
1920
1,190
55
4.6
1921
1,402
86
6.1
1922
1,417
78
5.5
1923
1,398
27
1.9
1924
1,456
45
3.1