33
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ANALYST TO THE GOVT. OF MADRAS
Of the local bodies submitting samples Madras City is not limited as to
number. Normally 1 receive about 100 per month. The smaller number during
the year under report is due to the fact that following an appeal case in the
High Court which decided that some of the regulations made under the Act were
ultra vires sampling ceased for over two months. With a modified procedure
sampling recommenced. Other local bodies are entitled to submit 180 samples
per year. It will be seen that in the case of Vizagapatam only has full advantage
been taken of the introduction of the Act though in the case of Madura,
Rajahmundry, and Trichinopoly a substantial number of samples has been taken.
Generally where a small number of samples has been taken the majority have
been received during the latter part of the year and under pressure from the
Director of Public Health, who now receives a monthly report from me and calls
for an explanation when the number of samples taken by any municipality is low.
It is to be hoped, and there appears to be a reasonable expectation, that in many
cases a number of samples more nearly approaching a full quota will be submitted
during the year commencing October 1931. In the case of Gunt ū r where no
samples were taken, the Chairman did not make the usual delegation of his
powers to the Municipal Health Officer and his staff so that they had no authority
to take samples. I have no information as to why no samples were sent from
Karaikudi. The Act was introduced into Proddatur only late in the year under
report and the commencement of sampling was delayed owing to dissatisfaction
by the municipality with the terms on which they were permitted to submit
samples. These difficulties have now been cleared up.
Chart B shows the number of cases in which legal proceedings have been
taken and the average fine inflicted, where convictions ensued, in each munici
-
pality and for each article of food.
CHART B.
N u m b e r .
Name of place.
Total.
Ghee.
Milk.
Tea.
Coffee.
Butter.
Gingelly
oil.
N u m b e r o f c o n v i c t i n o n s .
A v e r a g e f i n e .
N u m b e r o f c o n v i c t i o n s .
A v e r a g e f i n e .
N u m b e r o f c o n v i c t i o n s .
A v e r a g e f i n e .
N u m b e r o f c o n v i c t i o n s .
A v e r a g e f i n e .
N u m b e r o f c o n v i c t i o n s .
A v e r a g e f i n e .
N u m b e r o f c o n v i c t i o n s .
A v e r a g e f i n e .
N u m b e r o f c o n v i c t i o n s .
A v e r a g e f i n e .
RS.
RS.
RS.
RS.
RS.
RS.
RS.
1
Madras City . . .
158
8
58
12
13
7
20
6
58
6
3
7
6
11
2
Calicut . . .
10
3
1
5
4
3
5
3
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
3
Coimbatore . . .
19
34
5
39
6
43
2
40
1
20
. . .
. . .
5
18
4
Kumbakouam.
32
7
3
3
. . .
. . .
8
8
15
7
. . .
. . .
6
6
5
Madura . . .
13
9
2
10
5
5
2
10
4
13
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
6
Mangalore . . .
5
6
1
5
. . .
. . .
4
6
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
7
Mettupalaiyam.
1
20
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
2 0
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
8
Nellore . . .
4
5
4
5 . . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
9
Ootacamund
6
2
. . .
. . .
4
2
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
2
1
10
Rajahmundry.
15
14
14
14
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
20
11
Tellicherry . . .
10
8
2
10
2
5
3
1 0
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
3
6
22
15
. . .
. . .
12
15
2
1 3
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
8
15
12
Trichinopoly. . .
6
1 6
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
1
7
3
16
. . .
. . .
2
20
13
Virudhunagar.
14
Vizagapatam.
70
5
11
8
46
4
. . .
. . .
5
11
. . .
. . .
8
8
Total . . .
371
9
101
13
92
8
47
8
87
7
3
7
41
11
A number of points arising from the particulars given in these two charts
call for comment. First the appalling extent to which dishonesty exists amongst
food-vendors generally. Of the total number of samples taken it will be seen
that more than 40 per cent were adulterated, whilst, in the case of essential
articles of food such as ghee and milk more than 50 per cent of the samples had
to be condemned. In considering these figures it should be borne in mind that a
sample taker carrying out his duties labours under a number of special dis
-
advantages, more particularly the fact that he is known and that, when he decides
to devote a day to taking samples information of his activities will spread rapidly
5