360 ADULTERATION OF FOOD. 
sold contrary to the provisions of the Margarine Act, 
1887. The percentage of butter adulteration was affected by 
the samples taken by agents of the Royal Lancashire 
Agricultural Society and of the Butter Association, who 
devoted themselves to butter, and only submitted for analysis 
samples which their long experience led them to believe to 
be spurious. The result in 1899 was that of 88 samples 
submitted for analysis on behalf of the Royal Lancashire 
Agricultural Society, as many as 63 were condemned; and 
of 37 analysed for the Butter Asociation, 32 were condemned. 
Only 35 samples were sent for analysis by private purchasers, 
16 of which were reported against; so that out of a total of 
160 samples of butter analysed on behalf of non-official 
associations or persons, as many as I11, or nearly 70 per 
cent. were reported against. In more than one of the 
analysts’ reports attention is drawn to the growing practice 
of selling as genuine dairy butter margarine made up to 
resemble exactly fresh butter. To avoid detection, the 
retailer agrees not to sell the article to anyone but a known 
customer, with the result that strangers—and therefore 
inspectors—are supplied with genuine butter, while pur- 
chasers who are known to the seller receive margarine, for 
which the price of butter is charged. 
A number of samples of butter were condemned on account 
of the presence of water in undue amount, and it is 
apparently a common practice to avoid pressing out in a 
proper manner the water introduced in the process of butter 
manufacture. The fraudulent retention of water in butter 
intended for sale is obviously a profitable operation ; one 
sample which was condemned contained nearly 30 per cent. 
of water. Legal proceedings were taken in respect of 730 
sainples, and 666 penalties were imposed amounting to £ 2,657, 
including 3 fines of £50 each; 2 of £30; 20f £25; 24 of £20; 
57 of from £10 to £20 each; and107 of from £5 to £10. The 
remainder averaged about 30s. each. 
Amongst other articles analysed may be mentioned bread, 
of which only 3 out of 597 samples were condemned, and flour, 
of which g out of 720 samples were found adulterated. Only 5 
samples of lard were reported against, although 1,462 samples 
