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

City of London 1930

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]

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Table: Table showing Weight of Meat delivered, and Meat delivered to Contractors as unsound, during each Month of the Years 1929 and 1930.

Table showing Weight of Meat delivered, and Meat delivered to Contractors as unsound, during each Month of the Years 1929 and 1930.

MonthMeat delivered at the Market, 1929.Unsound Meat delivered to Contractors, 1929.Meat delivered at the Market, 1930.Unsound Meat delivered to Contractors, 1930.
Tons.cwts.qrs.Tons.cwts.qrs.Tons.cwtsqrs.Tons.cwts.qrs.
January44,1790016517241,1010053151
February37,943007617336,164005262
March37,498009412239,060006683
April39,678008514139,2140068183
May39,607006512339,5410054133
June33,859005811335,6040078101
July38,189001009237,4610080103
August35,66800817031,862005150
September36,2820010411336,4680010630
October42,894001510341,7220098121
November38,804007911337,9400057120
December41,248008419144,9550065191
Totals465,819001,14962461,07200834152

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One ton in every 553 tons of meat paying toll in the Central Markets, Smithfield, was
condemned last year, as compared with one ton in 405 in 1929.
For some years past, it has been recognised that the method of transport used in connection
with unsound meat has not been in accord with modern public health ideas, and
negotiations have been conducted with the object of effecting improvement in this department
of food control in the City. These have resulted in the substitution of the old horse.
drawn vehicles by modern steel tank vans drawn by a tractor, the advantages of which may
be summarised as follows :—
1. Ease of loading and unloading.
2. Ease of cleansing.
3. Increased carrying capacity (5 tons in comparison with 1 or 2 tons).
4. Rapidity of transport.
5. Security in transit, as vans are provided with a lock.
6. No leakage of offensive liquid.
The illustrations inset will clearly indicate these advantages.

Table: CENTRAL MARKETS, SMITHFIELD. *Table showing the average deliveries at the Central Meat Market, and other details for successive quinquennial periods during the past 57 years :—

CENTRAL MARKETS, SMITHFIELD. *Table showing the average deliveries at the Central Meat Market, and other details for successive quinquennial periods during the past 57 years :—

Quinquennium.Annual Average Genera Supply.Seizures by Inspectors% of Unsound Meat.
Tons.cwts.qrs.Tons.cwts.qrs.
1874-1878178,373100192182.108
1879-1883218,200123282112.129
1884-1888249,58019224812.099
1889-1893304,98651461151.151
1894-1898372,44012274933.201
1899-1903410,4561811,082132.263
1904-1908414,9061111,584193.382
1909-1913427,146001,52023.356
1914-1918324,715001,370112.422
1919-1923403,3641001,849190.459
1924-1928477,405001,21020.253
1929-1930463,4600099210.214
* I am indebted to the Clerk and Superintendent of the Central Markets for the figures relating to the market supplies, sources of origin, &c.

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INSTRUCTION OF MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS IN MEAT INSPECTION.
The Corporation is recognised to have valuable material and educational resources
at its disposal at Smithfield Market, access to which is of great importance to students
desiring to qualify for any of the public appointments requiring a knowledge of meat and
its several affections.
A scheme has been prepared under which facilities are made available to the several
teaching institutions in London and its vicinity.