London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

View report page

Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Finsbury 1903

Report on the public health of 1903

This page requires JavaScript

Text

Copy text to clipboard

68
destroyed, the Council not being liable. In cases of difficulty
the Medical Officer of Health is sent for and consulted. But if
the inspector takes the first step, and on his round comes across
meat which is unfit for food, exposed for sale, or deposited in any
place for the purpose of sale or of preparation for sale, he may
deem it right to "seize" the meat. In this event it is thoroughly
examined by the Medical Officer of Health, and if found to be
diseased or unsound and therefore unfit for food, it is submitted
to the presiding Magistrate at the Police Court. Permission is
always granted for experts to examine the meat on behalf of the
persons from whom it has been seized, and such meat lies at the
Town Hall for this purpose for 24 hours after seizure. After
the meat is condemned, the case in all its particulars (except the
name of the person from whom it was seized), is laid before the
Public Health Committee, and their instructions as to prosecution
or otherwise carried out.
During the year under review there have been 26 prosecutions
for unsound meat, fish and fruit, as follows:—

Table: TABLE OF MEAT PROSECUTIONS, 1903.

TABLE OF MEAT PROSECUTIONS, 1903.

Date of Trial.Name and Address.Article.Where seized and Name of Inspector.Penalty and Costs inflicted.
Jan. 2William George Hiller, 50, Chapel Street, FinsburyTwo legs of pork, weighing 25 lbs.—unsound This pork was pickled or salted, and probably was unsound before being pickled. This meat was examined on the defendant's behalf by Professor Penberthy.50, Chapel Street, Finsbury(Inspector Billing)£30. This case had been adjourned from December 19th, 1902.
Feb. 6Charles Brewer, 71, Margaret Street, FinsburyCarcase of pork, weighing 27 lbs.—diseased This carcase was extremely emaciated and dropsical.71, Margaret Street, Finsbury(Inspector Billing)£15 and£5 costs.