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 1898
Forty-third annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Parish of St. Mary, Islington
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170
1898]
killed on an average every week in the parish, thus making an annual total of:—
| Beasts | 7,280 |
| Calves | 988 |
| Sheep | 61,724 |
| Pigs | 1,040 |
| Total Animals | 71,032 |
But, apart from hygienic reasons, the slaughter of such a total
makes it most desirable that these animals should be killed under
the most humane conditions and under the closest supervision, and
therefore, in a public slaughter house, managed and controlled by public
officials, who would be responsible, for the method of killing, as
well as for the proper examination of the carcases for disease.
It is not to be understood from these remarks that any allegation
is made that cruelty is practised in Islington, for that is far from its
meaning, although undoubtedly more humane methods might with
great advantage be practised here as elsewhere in England.
The fact is that many modern devices,"adopted on the Continent,
for depriving animals of their life with the minimum of suffering, are
either unknown in this country, or, if known, are not generally
practised.
The following is a list of the licensed Slaughter Houses in
Islington:—