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237
[1905
INSPECTOR WILKINSON'S REPORT.
Public Health Department,
Town Hall,
Upper Street, N.
Afril 261 h, 1906.
To A. E. Harris, Esq.,
Medical Officer of Health.
Dear Sir,
I have pleasure in submitting my report on the inspection of meat and other foods,
slaughter-houses, cowhouses, offensive trade establishments, etc., for the year ending December
30th, 1905.
1
Slaughter-houses.—The number of slaughter-houses on the register is 39, being one less
than in the previous year owing to a vacant tenancy at 275, New North Road.
The total number of visits paid to them during the year was 2,227, and they have as a
whole been remarkably well conducted, there being only in two or three instances any infringement
of the bye-laws, these exceptions being due to insufficient care in the collection of blood,
etc. A verbal notice proved effectual in each case in remedying the nuisance.
There have been three changes of tenancy during the year.
The number of animals slaughtered during the year was as follows :—
Oxen
2,195
Cows
17
Calves
127
Sheep and Lambs
306,686
Pigs
48
Total.
33,073
These figures, as compared with those of the previous year, shew a decrease of 165 in the
number of oxen, an increase of 13 cows, a decrease of 27 calves, a decrease of 2,287 sheep
and lambs, and an increase of 23 pigs, or a total decrease of 2,503 animals.
It does not, however, follow that this represents a lessened consumption of meat within
the Borough, nor yet necessarily a proportionate decrease in the consumption of meat killed
in the private slaughter-houses (although there is doubtless a tendency in that direction
owing to the ever increasing quantity and improved quality of the supplies at the Central
Meat Markets), but it is mainly due to the fact that there has been a decrease of animals
slaughtered within the Borough, the carcases of which were sent to the wholesale market,
such during the past year having been almost inconsiderable.
The quality of the animals generally has been well up to the high standard of previous
years, to exceed which we cannot hope. It happens sometimes that animals which during life
exhibited no signs of disease prove to be affected with it in varying forms on post-mortem
examination. These rbnormal conditions of carcases and internal organs which were
found in animals slaughtered during the year are set forth in the subjoined table,