Adulteration of Food in Scotland. 91 



each conviction. In the 66 cases which were with- 

 drawn, costs were allowed against the defendants to the 

 amount of £59 10s., an average of 18s per case. In two 

 cases found not proven the costs on the accused amounted 

 to 1 os. 6d. each. The total costs charged to the Local 

 Authorities in the 330 prosecutions amounted to £278 is. id., 

 or an average of barely 16s. iod. per prosecution. 



Of 2,031 samples of milk examined, 372, or 1 8*3 per cent., 

 were reported to be adulterated. The common forms of 

 adulteration were abstraction of fat and addition of water" 

 Sometimes, however, the analysis showed that skim milk 

 had been added to new milk, or that fat had been abstracted 

 and water also added. 



Of 653 samples of butter examined, 59, or 9*0 per 

 cent., were reported to be adulterated. In a considerable 

 proportion there was gross adulteration. No fewer than 

 39, or 66 per cent., of the adulterated samples 

 contained more than 70 per cent, of foreign fat. Fifteen of 

 them were reported as wholly margarine; 10 as containing 

 from 90 per cent, to 99 per cent, of foreign fat ; 9 from 

 80 per cent, to 90 per cent. ; and 5 from 70 per cent, to 

 80 per cent. 



Of 131 samples of cheese examined, 9, or 6*9 per cent,, 

 were reported to be adulterated. Three of the samples 

 contained respectively 20 per cent., 25 per cent., and 

 33 per cent, fat other than butter fat ; 4 were reported as 

 margarine cheese, one was reported as machine skimmed milk 

 cheese almost devoid of fat, and one as skimmed milk 

 cheese. 



Of 158 samples of margarine examined, eight, or 5*1 per 

 cent., were reported to be adulterated — all on the ground 

 that they contained boric acid — the amounts varying from 

 3 grains to 16 grains per pound. 



No proceedings were taken for adulteration of margarine, 

 but forty-nine prosecutions were instituted under the 

 Margarine Act of 1887, the articles not having been duly 

 labelled. In 40 cases convictions were obtained ; in 7 

 the charges were withdrawn ; and in the remaining two 

 cases there was no conviction. 



