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229 [1904
and lambs, and 21 pigs, whilst there was an increase of 13 in the number of calves, or a total
decrease of 5,379 animals.
The large decrease in the number of sheep slaughtered is mainly due to the fact that a
certain wholesale dealer retired from business a few months ago, it having been his custom
to buy from 50 to 200 sheep weekly, which were slaughtered within the Borough, and the
carcases sent to Smithfield Meat Market. Nearly all the animals slaughtered during the
year were young and of good quality, there being only 4 cows killed, as against 173 in the
previous year, and nearly 500 in the year 1902; this is accounted for by the fact that a certain
butcher who found the standard of meat inspection too high in Islington has since the middle
of the year 1903 had his cows killed elsewhere.
It will be understood that disease (especially tuberculosis) is far less prevalent in oxen
than in cows. It is, therefore, pleasing to report that the amount of diseased meat and organs
found in slaughter-houses, which has shown a steady and constant diminution since the
records of meat inspection have been systematically kept within the Borough, has been much
less during the year under consideration than that of any previous year, and I have no
hesitation in saying the quality of the meat slaughtered in the Islington Private Slaughterhouses
at the present time will compare most favourably with that of any City or Borough
throughout the Kingdom.
There is, however, a common practice (more prevalent in London and other places where
meat is dressed and prepared for the London Market, than in other cities and towns), which
is most repulsive, and I think ought to be stopped by the insertion pf a clause to that effect
in any proposed alteration or amendment of the Public Health Acts. I refer to the obnoxious
practice of blowing lamb and veal by the aid of the human lungs, often a plug of tobacco having
to be removed in order to accomplish the feat. It is only fair to state that in some instances
specially constructed mechanical appliances are provided and used for the purpose, although
one has often seen men or youths testing the capacity of their lungs whilst the inflator
provided was available, and I have further had in some instances reasonable grounds for
suspicion as to the soundness of the operator's lungs.
Whilst there would appear to be no serious objection to mechanical inflation under proper
conditions, there is nothing to be said in its favour, as at the most it is only a disguise
imparted to the meat in order to deceive the eye, and which may sometimes almost hide its
defects from a practical person.
The only excuse for the practice as given to me is that the London public would not buy
it if dressed in a plain or normal condition, but my retort is that if the London public
actually saw how such meat was prepared, the butcher would soon require a much different
excuse for the deception.
Owing to the fact that there are now practically no cows slaughtered under my supervision
cases of tuberculosis which have previously figured largely in these reports are
becoming rare, and only one carcase was destroyed on that account during the year, that
being an exceedingly well nourished calf, which was surrendered by the owner at great
sacrifice.
There were, however, 145 animals which required some special attention during the year