London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Islington 1900
Forty-fifth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough of Islington
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143
[1900
Only three prosecutions were taken, because it has been the desire of the
Public Health Committee and the officials to do nothing to harass a great and
most respectable trade, but rather to gain their confidence, and to let them see
that unless they knowingly and wilfully exposed unsound, unwholesome, or
diseased food, or prepared it for sale, they would not be subjected to proceedings
in the courts. The result has been just what might have been expected, for the
Inspector, instead of being a terror to them, has been their best friend, to whom
they have gone for advice when in doubt as to the soundness of their meat, and to
whom they have not hesitated to give all the information he might require.
Inspector Young, through his courtesy as well as his knowledge of his work, has
completely gained the respect of the trade, and it is not too much to say that they
have complete confidence in his judgment.
Herewith is given his report on his work for the year. It will well repay
perusal, as it shows what a field there is in Islington for food inspection.
MEAT INSPECTOR'S REPORT.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
To A. E. Harris, Esq. January 24th, 1901.
Medical Officer of Health.
Dear Sir,
I have the honour to report that during the year ending 31st December, 1900, 3,404
visits were made to the butchers' shops, preserved meat factories, stalls, etc., with the following
results:—
A large quantity of "Tinned Food," weighing over two tons, was seized in a store in Bride Street, Barnsbury. The food consisted of—
| Description of Contents of Tins. | No. of Tins. | Description of Contents of Tins. | No. of Tins. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pine-apple | 1,075 | French beans | 6 |
| Sardines | 574 | Mixed vegetables | 3 |
| Tomatoes | 281 | Mushrooms | 3 |
| Lobster | 164 | Corned mutton | 1 |
| Prawns | 54 | Tongue | 1 |
| Apricots | 18 | Onions | 1 |
| Pears | 12 | Bottles of figs in syrup | 20 |
| Gravy | 12 | Total | 2,231 |
| Asparagus | 6 |
The food had been obtained from a wholesale firm for "the purpose of feeding pigs," but
evidently the owner considered what was good for pigs was also suitable for a certain section
of the public, because he was proved to have sold a considerable quantity to shopkeepers.
Fortunately his profitable career was cut short, and ended in his being sentenced to undergo
three months' imprisonment. A shopkeeper was fined £5 and costs for exposing for sale
unsound rabbits, etc., while a costermonger was fined £2 and costs for giving the public the
opportunity of purchasing Christmas Turkeys at the sum of Is. 6d. each. The wholesale
merchant who supplied him was fined £5 and costs for his share in the transaction.
Over five tons of preserved tripe (which had become tainted, due to the evaporation of
the brine) was found on a tripe-dresser's premises, but as there was no evidence of the firm's
intention to sell the food, it was destroyed with the consent of the owner.