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(c) The drainage of the slaughterhouse must be so arranged that
no blood or other refuse can flow out within sight or smell of animals
awaiting slaughter, and no such refuse shall be deposited in proximity
to the waiting pens.
(d) If more animals than one are being slaughtered in one slaughterhouse
at the same time, they must not be within view of each other.
(e) None but licensed men shall be employed in or about slaughterhouses.
These suggestions are in ths main provided for in the Bye-laws for
slaughterhouses in operation in the City. With regard to (a), although not
consulted by the Departmental Committee, I strongly concur, and so advised
the Admiralty Authorities, who had previously asked my views on this point.
I also advise the adoption of (e), dealing with licensing the operators. I
recommend, therefore, the adoption of these Clauses by adding them to our
Bye-laws for regulating the conduct of the business of slaughtering. These
are subject to confirmation by the Local Government Board.
SEIZURE AND CONDEMNATION OF TUBERCULAR MEAT.
In September last a circular letter was received from the Secretary to the
Local Government Board, stating that he had been directed to state that the
Board had had under consideration the Report of the Select Committee of
the House of Commons in the Tuberculosis (Animals) Compensation Bill, 1904,
in which reference is made—
(a) To the variety of practice alleged to exist with regard to the
amount of tubercular deposit, the existence of which in a carcass is
held to justify total condemnation.
(b) To complaints made by butchers as to the injury caused to them
by their prosecution in open Court for having tuberculous meat upon
their premises.
On the advice of the City Solicitor and Medical Officer of Health, the Board
were informed in reply thereto, with reference to (a) that your Meat Inspectors
have copies of the Board's letters enclosing the recommendations of the Royal
Commission, that they had been instructed by your Medical Officer of
Health to comply strictly therewith in seizures of tuberculous meat, and that,
as a matter of fact, such recommendations have been invariably followed.
With reference to (b), the Board were informed the invariable rule is that,
in every case, the evidence is carefully considered before any proceedings are
taken, and no proceedings have ever been taken in cases where a butcher,