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 1902
Forty-seventh annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Borough of Islington
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209
[1902
The butchers' shops and stalls and various food establishments have been regularly and
frequently visited, over 4,000 visits having been made during the year. The quality of the meat
generally which has come under observation has been fairly satisfactory, although of a varied
class, from the best home-killed English and Scotch, American (Deptford or Birkenhead killed),
American chilled, Dutch and Danish fresh-killed meat, to frozen meat from the River Plate,
Australia and New Zealand.
During the year only small quantities have been found to come direct from the country to
the retail shops, but in one instance portions of the carcase of a tuberculous cow which had been
slaughtered in the country were found exposed for sale, seized and condemned by a magistrate,
and destroyed. Its origin being traced and the consignor prosecuted, but whilst the magistrate
was convinced that the carcase was diseased and unfit for human consumption, he refused to
convict on the ground that it had not been proved to his satisfaction that the defendant had
sufficient knowledge of its diseased condition, even though it was shewn that the diseased
membranes had been skilfully stripped in order to disguise the carcase or make it presentable,
and he dismissed the summons and gave £3 3s. costs against the Council. I need hardly say that
this decision was a surprise not only to the prosecution but also to the defence, as it was
generally acknowledged that the evidence was sufficient to warrant a penalty in almost any
Court of Law.
Two summonses were taken out against a person for exposing unsound meat for sale, he
being fined £5 and costs in each case.
Two summonses were issued against another person for exposing unsound fruit for sale, the
defendant pleading guilty, and the magistrate, considering this his first offence during a long
business career, fined him 15s. and costs on each summons.
Another fruiterer charged with exposing for sale unsound fruit, was fined £2 and costs.
Several butchers, preserved meat vendors, fruiterers, etc., found in possession of unsound
food-stuffs, have been severely cautioned against future exposure or possession of unsound articles
of food.
The following summary shews the amount of diseased and unsound foods destroyed during the year:—
| Tons | Cwts | Qrs | lbs. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diseased carcases and organs from slaughterhouses | 3 | 2 | 3 | 24 |
| Unsound „ „ „ „ | 0 | 2 | 2 | 22 |
| Diseased meat and organs from shops | 0 | 1 | 3 | 16 |
| Unsound (tainted) preserved meat from wholesale warehouse | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1, ,, meat from shops and stalls | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9 |
| „ vegetables and fruit (various) from shops and stalls | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| „ rabbits (tainted), 73, approximate weight | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21 |
| ,, hares in advanced state of decomposition, approximate weight | 0 | 0 | 1 | 20 |
| ,, preserved tomatoes, 23 tins, approximate weight | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 |
| Tons | 3 | 17 | 3 | 16 |
There were during the year 13 licensed cowsheds within the Borough, which received a total
of 140 visits of inspection, and the regulations have been fairly well observed; in some instances,
however, I have had to speak in plain terms regarding the uncleanly condition of some
of the cattle, pointing out that it is impossible to prevent contamination of the milk where dried
excreta is caked on the butts, flanks and udders.