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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
Islington 1907
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]
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269
[1907
The particulars of each are given in the following statement:—
| No. of Samples. | No. Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated. | Percentage Adulterated in 1906. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee | 23 | 1 | 7.4 | |
| Cocoa | 11 | – | – | 11.1 |
| Rice | 1 | – | – | – |
| Pepper (White) | 8 | – | – | – |
| Pepper (Black) | 3 | – | – | – |
| Mustard | 9 | – | – | – |
| Arrowroot | 8 | – | – | – |
| Ginger (Ground) | 6 | – | – | – |
| Baking Powder | 17 | – | – | – |
| Bread | 15 | – | – | – |
| Malt Vinegar | 4 | – | – | – |
| Yeast | 4 | – | – | – |
| Dripping | 17 | – | – | – |
| Flour | 17 | – | – | – |
| Self Raising Flour | 1 | – | – | – |
| Pea Flour | 7 | – | – | – |
| Raspberry Jam | 4 | – | – | – |
| Black Currant Jam | 4 | – | – | – |
| Strawberry Jam | 4 | – | – | – |
| Extract of Meat Tablets | 6 | 3 | – | |
| Cinnamon | 2 | – | – | – |
| 171 | 4 | 2.0 |
Drugs.—75 samples of drugs were examined, of which 11, equal to 14.7
per cent., were reported by the Analyst as being adulterated.
It is very unsatisfactory to find that one sixth of the samples of lime water
analyzed were not in accordance with the standard of the Pharmacopoeia.
Inasmuch as this drug is very largely used in the summer months in cases
of diarrhoea, it becomes of grave importance that it should be of full strength.
With regard to the 3 tartaric acids, it was found that they contained a
very infinitesimal amount of lead, which was below the standard adopted by
traders and analysts and sanctioned by the Local Government Board.
The
actual proportional quantities being 0.015, 0.012 and 0.012 per cent.
Samples.
Number
adulterated.
Percentage
adulterated.
Percentage
adulterated
1906.
Lime Water
12
2
16.7
14.3
Oil of Juniper
1
1
100.0
–
Glycerine
5
–
–
–
Olive Oil
1
–
–
50.0
Compound Liquorice
Powder
6
–
–
–
Ground Gentian Root
1
1
100.0
16.6
Cod Liver Oil
7
–
–
–
Compound Tincture of
Rhubarb
6
–
–
–
Camphor Water
1
–
–
–
Spirits of Camphor
2
–
–
–
Precipitated Sulphur
2
–
–
6.0
Oleum Terebinthinæ
3
–
–
–
Camphorated Oil
2
–
–
–
Salad Oil
1
–
–
–
Almond Oil
2
–
–
–
Tartaric Acid
3
3
100.0
–
Quinine Wine
6
–
–
–
Gregory's Powder
2
1
–
–
Saffron
4
2
–
–
Fluid Magnesia
5
1
–
–
Liquor Bismuthi et
Ammonii Citratis
3
–
–
–
75
11
14.7
–
T 2