154 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS REPORT. Report on the Work of Inspeetors of Foods for the Year 1914-15. A. W. J. MacFadden. (Extract from the Annual Report of the Medical Officer of the Local Governmenh Board.)-Since the commencement of the war the inspectors have been continuously engaged in supervising the preparation of Army food supplies. Whilst the quality of the materials used in the preparation of the foods was generally found to be satisfactory, exception had, in many cases, to be taken regarding the conditions under which the food was being prepared.Steps were taken, where needed, to insure perfect cleanliness in the factories ; in some cases the personal cleanliness of the workers left much to be desired. Although great improve- ment has been egected, it is to be feared that the standards of cleanliness which have been secured will not be maintained by many of the firms when they are no longer engaged on War Department work, and this emphasises the desirability, to which reference was made in last year’s report (cf.ANALYST, 1915, 40, 178), of con- ferring on sanitary authorities more stringent powers for securing that food for ssle for human consumption should be prepared under hygienic conditions.REPORT 155 The following reports were published in the year under review : I.On the Use of Proprietary Foods for Infant Feeding, by F. J. H. Coutts; 11. On the Analysis and Composition of Some Proprietary Foods for Infants, by J. L. Baker; 111. On the Effects of Certain Condensing and Drying Processes used in the Preservation of Milk, upon its Bacterial Contents, by S.DelBpine. Baker’s report (cf. ANALYST, 1914, 39, 464) showed that a large proportion of the foods contained considerable quantities of starch, that this existed in a practically unchanged condition, and that the majority of the foods examined contained a very low percentage of fats. I n many cases the statements in printed matter accompanying the packets of the foods were inaccurate and misleading, and the exaggerated claims made as tro the value of the foods were not justified.Coutts pointed out (cf. ANALYST, 1914, 39, 464) that many of the foods, even when prepared with milk and water according to the direc- tions given on the labels, showed a composition differing markedly from that of human milk or cow’s milk.E e came to the conclusion that foods containing unchanged starch or starch altered only by heating should not be given to infants under seven months of age, except on the advice and under the supervision of a medical man. The report also dealt with the inaccurate statements made in labels or advertisements as to proprietary foods for infants, and discussed the possible methods of exercising control over these articles of food.The results of experiments recorded in Deldpine’s report (cf. ANALYST, 1915, 40, 176) indicate that the usual process of preparing sweetened condensed milk is effective in destroying the virulence of the tubercle bacillus, and that this process and the other methods of drying milk which were investigated resulted in a considerable destruction of the bacteria present in the original milk.Attention was drawn to the necessity of preventing re- contamination of the condensed or dried milk during the final stages of the processes. The Local Government Board has received several representations that hardships have been caused by the administration of the Milk and Cream Regulations, 1912, as far as cream is concerned, and numerous conferences have been had with the trade.The President has stated in the House of Commons (May 21, 1914) that, in view of the somewhat contradictory evidence available as to the effect of boric acid on health, he had decided to nominate a small expert committee to investigate the question afresh; owing, however, to the war and to the absence on military service of several of the proposed members, it has not so far been possible to proceed with the appointment of the committee. The President also expressed the opinion that, pending the completion of this investigation, it would be inadvisable for local authorities to institute proceedings in respect of boric acid in cream except in cases where the amount of preservative exceeded the amount declared on the label or where the amount so declared was clearly excessive.Inquiry was made by a public analyst whether ‘‘ cream ” as defined in the Eegulations included the article known as ‘Lclotted ” or L L Devonshire ” cream. The Board replied that such cream did come within the definition of (‘ cream.” Several outbreaks of bacterial food poisoning were brought to the Board’s notice during the year.The two most serious of these had their origin in milk; they occurred in July at Withnell and Chorley and in October and November at Newcastle- under-Lyme and Stoke-on-Trent. At the former places 329 persons were affected and at the latter 375 ; two deaths occurred in each case. The Bource of the outbreak156 REPORT in both instances was traced to a cow which had been ailing for several days antece- dent to the outbreak.A food poisoning organism allied to the BaciZZus enteritidis of Gaertner was isolated from the organs of the fatal cases available for examination, as well a6 from material derived from the affected cows. An outbreak involving eighty- five persons occurred in May at Cambridge, the alleged cause being fresh cooked salmon.A few fragments of the salmon, all that remained over, were examined bacteriologically, but no organism such as is commonly associated with outbreaks of food poisoning was discovered. Three fish were served at the dinner, and, as many persons other than those affected consumed some of the fish, it is possible that not all of the latter were infected; this hypothesis is confirmed by the result of the bacteriological analysis. Boiled pressed pork was supposed to be the cause of food poisoning at Oswestry ; eighty-six persons were affected, and one died. An organism of the eizteritidis group was isolated from the organs of the fatal case as well as from the faxes of two of the sufferers. Owing to the delay in reporting the outbreak, none of the original material which was suspected of having caused illness could be obtained for examination. w. P. s.