REPORT. 



Each year brings with it changed conditions and results in 

 new and varying work. We have found less violations of 

 the renovated butter law and an increase in violations of the 

 oleomargarine laws. This is accounted for by the fact that 

 fewer dealers are now handling the former, while the number 

 handling the latter has increased. It is believed that the 

 amount of oleomargarine sold in the State has somewhat 

 increased, although the Boston receipts show a falling off 

 of nearly 2,000 packages. As the oleomargarine now on the 

 market is not prohibited by State law, as was the case with 

 that formerly sold, the various laws governing registration 

 of dealers, the marking of vehicles, the labelling of packages, 

 placing of signs, and, above all, the selling of oleomargarine 

 as and for butter, are the only means of protecting the public 

 against fraud, and the butter makers and dealers against un- 

 fair competition. We have presented in court, during the 

 year, 101 cases of violation of the various oleomargarine laws, 

 79 cases of violation of the renovated butter law and 18 cases 

 for the adulteration of milk. Two of the cases were for 

 milk containing formaldehyde ; the balance were undoubtedly 

 watered. Most of this milk work has been done in conjunc- 

 tion with the local milk inspectors. 



We have during the year come into closer touch with 

 these officers than ever before, and have gathered from them 

 information which has aided us materially in our work, for 

 which we record our indebtedness. We notice that in places 

 where the campaign for pure milk has waged longest and 

 much high-priced milk is sold the rate of consumption of 

 milk per capita is high. This is encouraging, and shows 



