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REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST TO THE GOVT. OF MADRAS
Nineteen samples of coffee were taken during the year and all of them were found
adulterated with chicory between 65 and 95 per cent. One vendor was cautioned and eighteen
prosecuted. Three were acquitted by the magistrate on technical grounds and the rest—15
— w e r e f i n e d R s . 7 e a c h e x c e p t o n e w h o w a s f i n e d R s . 1 0 .
Six samples of gingelly oil were adulterated with arachis (groundnut) oil in amounts
varying from 15 to 100 per cent. All the vendors were prosecuted and fined Rs. 7 each
except one who was fined Re. 1.
Except in the case of gingelly oil all the adulterated samples were seized with the
vessels that contained them and after conviction the articles were destroyed and the vessels
sold in auction.
Madura.— Fifteen samples were certified as adulterated. Two samples of ghee were
adulterated with 75 and 80 per cent of foreign fat. Both vendors were prosecuted and fined
Rs. 15 and Rs. 5 respectively.
Seven samples of milk were adulterated with added water between 9 and 29 per cent.
No action was taken in two cases. The remaining five vendors were prosecuted and fined
from Rs. 2 to Rs. 5.
Two samples of tea were found to contain 100 per cent of an unidentified imitation tea.
On prosecution the vendors were fined Rs. 15 and Rs. 5.
Four samples of coffee were adulterated with chicory in amounts varying from 40 to 80
per cent. On prosecution two vendors were fined Rs. 15 and the other two Rs. 10 each.
Mangalore.— Six samples were certified as adulterated. One vendor who sold ghee
adulterated with 20 per cent of foreign fat was prosecuted and fined Rs. 5. Five vendors
who sold adulterated tea were prosecuted. Four samples contained blackgram husk and a
fifth contained an unidentified leaf. Four vendors were fined from Rs. 5 to Rs. 10. One
case is pending.
Mettupalaiyam.— Eight samples were reported as adulterated. Six vendors were
cautioned and two prosecuted. One vendor who sold coffee with 55 per cent chicory was
fined Rs. 20. The other prosecution against a tea vendor was withdrawn.
Nellore.—Four samples—all ghee—were certified as adulterated. Two contained 80 per
cent and two others contained 60 and 65 per cent of foreign fat. On prosecution the vendors
of the former two samples were fined Rs. 5 each; the two other samples were from one vendor
who was fined Rs. 10.
Ootacamund.— Twelve samples were certified as adulterated. Four milk vendors who
sold adulterated milk with added water varying from 25 to 51 per cent were prosecuted and
fined Rs. 2 each.
Three samples of tea were adulterated, one with 40 per cent of blackgram husk and two
others with 10 and 60 per cent of an unidentified imitation tea leaf. No action was taken in
one case. Two vendors against whom action was taken were acquitted.
Five samples of gingelly oil were adulterated with arachis (groundnut) oil between 25
and 100 per cent. No action was taken against two vendors and the remaining three were
prosecuted. One case was dismissed. The other two vendors were fined Re. 1 each.
Rajahmundry.— Twenty-six samples were certified as adulterated. Of these twenty-five
related to ghee which contained foreign fat in amounts varying from 25 to 80 per cent. Six
vendors were cautioned and the remaining nineteen prosecuted. Of these four cases were
withdrawn as the vendors did not live in that town. Fourteen were convicted with fines
varying from Rs. 10 to Rs. 30. One case is still pending.
A vendor who sold gingelly oil adulterated with 50 per cent of arachis (groundnut) oil
was prosecuted and fined. Rs. 20.
Tellicherry.— Ten cases were certified as adulterated. Two vendors who sold ghee,
adulterated with 35 and 50 per cent of foreign fat, were prosecuted and fined Rs. 15 and
Rs. 5 respectively. Two milks were adulterated with 25 and 29 per cent of added water.
The vendors concerned were prosecuted and fined Rs. 4 and Rs. 5 respectively.
Three vendors who sold tea dust adulterated with 20, 60 and 75 per cent of blackgram
husk were prosecuted and fined Rs. 10 each.
Three samples of gingelly oil were adulterated, one with 25 per cent of groundnut and
coconut oil, and the other two with 20 and 25 per cent of coconut oil. The vendors were
prosecuted and fined Rs. 15, Rs. 2 and Rs. 2 respectively.
Trichinopoly.— Twenty-nine samples were certified as adulterated. Seventeen samples
of milk were adulterated, with added water from 12 to 70 per cent. Four vendors were
cautioned and the remaining 13 prosecuted. Of these one vendor had added a small amount
of cane sugar in addition to 66 per cent of added water. Addition of cane sugar increases
the specific gravity of a milk and so raises the lactometer reading by several degrees. An
amount of sugar which is only just detectable by taste is sufficient to make the presence of