View report page

231
[1904
In about 50 instances during the year meat, fruit, or other food substances, have been
found on tradesmen's premises which were more or less in an unsound condition by reason
of decomposition, but these were mainly in small quantities, such as butchers' small pieces,
known in the trade as "tibbs," and which in many instances are the trimmings from larger
joints that have become somewhat stale and discoloured. Or with reference to fruit, parts
of parcels thereof, which have begun to decompose and have not received the necessary
attention with regard to proper sorting before being exposed for sale. Cautions are administered
where negligence is evident, and a record of these kept for reference.
Only 3 summonses under Sec. 47 of the Public Health (London) Act, 1891, have been
taken out during the year, two of which were separate charges against one person at the
same time; for, in the first place, exposing fcr sale certain pork which was unsound; and,
secondly, for depositing for the purpose of sale a quantity of pork in the ice safe connected
with the shop, which was also unsound. The magistrate fined the defendant £5 and £1 2s.
costs on the first summons, and ,£3 and £1 costs on the second charge. The third summons
was taken out against a butcher for exposing for sale unwholesome bacon, and Mr. Bros fined
the defendant £b and 2s. costs.
Two cowshed licenses have been allowed to lapse during the year, with the result that there are
now only ten on the register ; to these 139 visits have been paid during the year, and, as a whole, they
have been found to be fairly well conducted, in a few instances repeated complaints having to be made
regarding the cleanliness of some of the cows, and in one instance, where repeated warnings had not
availed, you paid personal visits and reported the matter to the Public Health Committee,
who gave instructions for legal proceedings; and in answer to the summons the cowkeeper
appeared at the North London Police Court before Mr. Cluer, who refused to admit any
evidence of previous warnings, whilst the defence had subpoened three Inspectors of the
London County Council, who did not admit in evidence the alleged uncleanly condition
of the cows, and the Magistrate dismissed the summons with £5 5s. costs against the Council.
There has, however, been considerable improvement since these proceedings, the floor of
the stalls in this cowshed having been relaid, and greater care as to the constant grooming
of the cows has been observed-
In five instances some abnormal affection of the udder has been detected, and reported
to the Medical Officer of the London County Council, resulting in the attention of the
Veterinary Inspector of that Authority.
The offensive trade establishments remain as heretofore—viz., 3 tripe dressers, 2 gutscrapers,
1 tallowmelter, and 1 knacker's yard; these have received a total of 202 visits
during the year, and no serious cause for complaint has arisen concerning them. The
tallow melting establishment has been acquired by Messrs. Johnson Bros., of Hull, who are
ref lacing the whole of the old plant by an entirely new arrangement under the closed chamber
system, by which it is intended that the whole of the obnoxious fumes generated in the
process will be driven by fans through the fire bars of the boiler furnace.
The knacker's yard, it is understood, will in the coming year be reconstructed on a similar
principle to the above-named.