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prosecutions and convictions in connection therewith. In Westminster nearly 50 tons of food stuff,
submitted for examination, were destroyed, and in connection with articles seized there were three
convictions. Tn Bermondsey over 71 tons of food stuff was removed and destroyed as trade refuse,
and in connection with articles seized there were three convictions. Two of these convictions related to
the seizure of the meat of a diseased horse, the meat being discovered in a passage at the rear of a
butcher's shop. Both the butcher and the man from whom he had purchased the horseflesh were sentenced
to three months' imprisonment. It was proved that the horse was slaughtered because of disease,
and the flesh was purchased by the first defendant at 8d. a stone, and by the second defendant from
the first at Is. a stone. In Southwark nearly 78 tons of food stuff, mostly landed at the wharves
in that borough, were either destroyed or utilized for other than purposes of food. In this
district there were five prosecutions and three convictions for selling unsound articles of food.
In Stepney 358 tons of unsound food stuff, much of it landed at the wharves, were destroyed,
and nearly 5,500 lbs. of diseased meat and offal were taken in the private slaughterhouses and were
condemned. In this district there were eight convictions for selling unsound food. In Poplar various
food stuffs, mostly tinned, landed at the wharves, were surrendered, and other unsound articles of food
sold in other parts of the borough were dealt with. In St. Marylebone various articles of food were
seized and in eleven instances convictions followed. In Shoreditch several convictions were obtained for
selling unsound food, and in St. Pancras there was one conviction for depositing for the purposes
of sale milk which was unfit for food. In Bethnal Green there were seven convictions. In the reports
relating to Camberwell, Chelsea, Deptford, Fulham, Greenwich, Hammersmith, Holborn, Kensington,
Lambeth, Lewisham, Wandsworth and Woolwich mention is made of seizures of articles of food, and
in a few instances prosecutions followed. The medical officers of health of Bermondsey and Stepney
both give account of articles of food dealt with under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food)
Act, 1907.
Among other matters mentioned in the annual report relating to Islington, is the institution
in the Islington Cattle Market of a system of insurance, by which, on payment of Is. per head on
bullocks and heifers sold for £12 or more, purchasers can obtain an indemnity if the carcase is subsequently
seized. Dr. Harris writes:—" The result of this arrangement will undoubtedly be that
butchers will be most anxious to give information respecting diseased cattle that come into their hands,
and that in consequence the sale of diseased meat will become less."
Disinfection.
In the last annual report it was stated that the Paddington Borough Council had approached
the Kensington Borough Council with a view to the joint use by the two authorities of the disinfecting
station in Kensington, but that no agreement had been made. In the meantime a site in
Paddington which the borough council had contemplated using had been otherwise disposed of, and
hence the Paddington Borough Council are continuing to entrust their disinfection to a contractor.
Dr. Allan reports that a suitable site for a disinfecting station for the Westminster City Council had
been found, and that plans had been prepared for the erection of a suitable station, which was
expected to be completed in 1910. Dr. Kenwood reports that the provision of the new disinfecting
station in Stoke Newington referred to in the last annual report has justified all the predictions as
to its value. An additional machine has been provided at the City station to meet the increasing
demand for the disinfection of infected articles. Dr. Harris states that there has been considerable
increase in the use of the disinfecting station in Islington, owing to the requirements of a firm who
export the cast-off clothing of soldiers and sailors to foreign countries which was disinfected before
exportation. In the annual reports relating to Kensington, Bethnal Green, and Deptford mention is
made of the provision of a chamber for disinfection with formalin of articles which cannot be
exposed to a high temperature. Dr. Alexander reports that the demand has greatly increased,
for the " Electric Disinfecting Fluid " manufactured by the Poplar Borough Council.
Shelters.
Shelters for the temporary accommodation of persons during the disinfection of their rooms
have been occupied to a very different extent in the several districts. Change in the methods of
disinfection is in some degree responsible for some of these shelters being less used than formerly,
but, as will be seen by the following table, in some districts the shelter is still much used. In recent
vears shelters have been found to serve an exceedingly useful purpose in providing accommodation for
persons who have been exposed to smallpox, who can be kept under observation in a shelter
during the period of incubation of the disease. In cases where any of these persons develop
small-pox, this occurs under conditions which do not expose other persons to risk of infection, and
hence the extension of the disease is prevented. In other directions the shelters have proved
of service. Thus Dr. Harris writes that the Islington shelter has been used for the cleansing of
verminous persons under the Cleansing of Persons Act, of whom 31 were cleansed in 1909; the
cleansing of school children from a like condition, 1,205 such children having been cleansed in that
year; and the bathing and cleansing of midwives after attendance on cases of puerperal
fever. The onlv change in the establishment of shelters mentioned in the annual reports is
that one of the shelters in Lambeth has been discontinued owing to the site being required in connection
with the erection of the County Hall. It is also proposed to discontinue the shelter of the
Popular Borough Council, which is situated at Bromley, and erect a shelter and disinfecting house on
vacant land in Glaucus-street, at a cost of £1,260.
2057 N