International Statistical Institute. 



381 



Legal proceedings were taken against the vendors of 

 1,205 samples of milk out of the 2,011 samples condemned 

 by the analysts, and in 986 cases penalties were imposed, 

 amounting in all to £1,652 lis. 6d. 



The samples of butter examined, or of what was sold as 

 butter, were 9,375 in number, of which 998, or i0'6 per cent, 

 were condemned. Of the 132 samples submitted to the 

 analysts by private persons nearly two-thirds were con- 

 demned, and this large proportion is attributed to the fact 

 that a private person is not likely to put himself to the 

 trouble and expense of obtaining an analysis unless he has 

 good grounds for supposing that he has been defrauded. 

 The Royal Lancashire Agricultural Society and the Butter 

 Association submitted 215 samples, of which 119, or 55 

 per cent., were condemned. This high rate is mainly 

 due to the fact that the agents of the Society have acquired a 

 remarkable degree of skill in the detection of offences, and 

 they only take samples which long experience leads them to 

 believe to be adulterated. Apart from the samples taken on 

 behalf of these associations and by private purchasers, 

 the rate of butter adulteration in London was 14*2 per cent.; 

 12-9 in the 32 great towns, and only 4-4 per cent, in the 

 remainder of the country. Legal proceedings were taken in 

 respect of 764 samples, and 679 penalties were inflicted, 

 amounting to £1,844 l8s - Iod - 



Among other articles, 1,421 samples of lard were analysed, 

 and all but two were found to be genuine ; of cheese 534 

 samples were examined, and five condemned; of 1,013 

 samples of flour, 20 were reported against ; and 333 samples 

 of oatmeal were analysed and all passed as genuine. 



International Statistical Institute. 



The seventh biennial meeting of the International Statisti- 

 cal Institute was held at Christiania, from the 2nd to 9th 

 September last. Thirteen European countries, the United 

 States of America, and, for the first time, the Empire of Japan 

 were represented at this gathering. The three official dele- 



