IRON FILINGS

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1925, Page 7

IRON FILINGS

■ - ‘ i ■ ■ IN THE TEACUP. Putting a magnet into a cup of tea, Police-Inspector Peveritt, of Hackney, withdrew some particles of metal 1 . As a result, Reuben Daltrey ,of Bow Road, was'summoned at North London for exposing for sale tea dust and tea which were not lit for foodAbout 1001 b. of tea was seized from Daltrey’s stall at Ridley Road market place, said the prosecuting solicitor. Examination showed that the tea contained iron filings and pieces of wire and nails. Daltrey did a flourishing trade with the poorer classes. Magistrate : Is there any other use for* this'tea? Inspector Peveritt: It can be used for industrial purposes —making dyes and tanning extracts. Magistrate: I wondered whether it might be used for mending roads 1 (Laughter.) Dr. G. H- Dart, medical officer of health ’for Hackney, declared that if the magnet was passed across the top of the tea it could be seen moving. With any ordinary infusion of tea the filings would be likely to- get through and cause gastritis or gastroenteritis. ,11 A wholesale tea merchant who sold the tea to Daltrey said he had been absent from business on account of illness. It was the practice to withdraw the iron filings with magnets, but on this occasion an employee must have sent out the tea without treating it. The Magistrate said the tea might be good for doctors, but lor nobodj else. He was certain, however, that Daltrey was unaware of the presence of the metal in the tea. Daltrey was fined £5 ami £3 3s