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
Battersea 1909
Report on the health of the Metropolitan Borough of Battersea for the year 1909
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The following table gives particulars of the quantities and nature of the unsound food brought to the Health Department for inspection and destruction during 1909:—
| Food. | Quantity. | Where purchased. |
|---|---|---|
| Apples | 1¾ barrels | Covent Garden Market |
| Bananas | 150 | Borough Market |
| Bloaters | 1 box | Billingsgate Market |
| Carrots | 40 bags | G. W. Docks, Plymouth |
| Dabs | 1 box | Billingsgate Market |
| Fillets | 7 lbs. | |
| Grapes | 770 lbs. | Spitalfields Market |
| Haddock | 2 boxes | Billingsgate Market |
| Hake | 13 „ | „ „ |
| Herrings | 1 box | „ „ |
| „ „ | 1 kit | „ „ |
| Mackerel | 1 box | „ „ |
| Peas (Green) | 1 bag | Borough Market |
| „ „ | 2 bags | „ „ |
| Plaice | 2 boxes | Billingsgate Market |
| „ „ | 1 box | „ „ |
| Plums | 17 boxes | — |
| Skate Wings | 1 box | Billingsgate Market |
| Sweets | 8 lbs. | — |
| Tomatoes | 2 bundles | Covent Garden Market |
| „ „ | 5 „ | Borough Market |
| „ „ | 3 „ | Covent Garden Market |
| „ „ | 16 boxes | Borough Market |
| „ „ | 23 „ | Neal Street, Long Acre |
In relation to the above-mentioned articles of food, it is the
practice in cases where the retail vendor has unknowingly purchased
articles which are unfit for human food, and where he has
made no attempt to sell them, to grant a certificate which enables
him to claim the return of his money. The food is destroyed
under the supervision of the Council's Officers. During 1909,
twenty-four certificates were granted in respect of the articles
shown in the table.
Slaughterhouses.
There are now only five slaughterhouses in the Borough, in
only three of which is any regular business done. One of the
latter is licensed for the slaughter of small animals only.
These premises have been systematically inspected during the
year. The premises are, comparatively speaking, small, and