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

Finsbury 1905

Report on the public health of Finsbury 1905 including annual report on factories and workshops

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Table: During the year under review we have only had 9 prosecutions; in each case a conviction has been obtained. The table of prosecutions 1901-1905 is as follows:—

During the year under review we have only had 9 prosecutions; in each case a conviction has been obtained. The table of prosecutions 1901-1905 is as follows:—

Years.No. of cases of Meat Prosecution.No. of Convictions.Cases Dismissed.Weight of Meat, &c. confiscated (in tons)
19012424—30
19021616—75
190319181101
19041515—76
190599—94

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The case in 1903, in which we failed to get a conviction, was
dismissed on a point of law as to whether the master was liable, under
sub-section 3 of section 47 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891,
for the acts of his servant—i.e., selling unsound meat for the food of
man. A case was stated for consideration by the King's Bench
Division of the High Court, but was subsequently abandoned, as the
defendant had in the meantime become an inmate of a lunatic asylum.
His friends guaranteed the costs incurred by the Council.

Table: TABLE OF MEAT, &c., PROSECUTIONS, 1905.

TABLE OF MEAT, &c., PROSECUTIONS, 1905.

Date of Trial.Defendants' Name and Address.ArticleWhere seized and Name of Inspector.Penalty and Costs Inflicted.
Jan. 11John Herbert, 160, Whitecross Street, Finsbury.Eleven tins, four bowls and two pieces of brawn, 12 sheep's tongues, and a quantity of pieces of meat, weighing in all 168 lbs. The brawn was mouldy, slimy and smelt offensively. The sheep's tongues and also the pieces of meat were all in an advanced stage of decomposition, as shown by the discoloration and offensive smell.160, Whitecross Street, Finsbury. (Inspector Billing.)£8 and£4 4s. costs.
Mar. 8Messrs. Chas. and Fredk. Rapson (trading as Rapson's Stores), 1, Lamb's Conduit Street, Holborn.One hundred and sixty-one and a half pounds of prunes. These prunes were much discoloured, many were rotten, and the whole smelt very offensively.57, Chapel Street, Finsbury. (Inspector Billing.)£3 3s. costs.