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 1905
Fiftieth annual report on the health and sanitary condition of the Metropolitan Borough of Islington
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1905]
288
Almost without exception the animals killed in the Islington private slaughter-houses during the year were purchased at a full market value without any suspicion of disease in them, consequently the loss resulting from the condemnation of carcases or individual organs under such circumstances is felt severely by the trade and operates on the market value of the animals at the time of purchase.
| No. | Description of Animals. | Extent of Disease or Affection. | Nature of disease | How disposed of. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ox | Peritoneum of tripe and spleen, and lung pleura | Tuberculosis | Affected organs and parts |
| 1 | do. | Peritoneum of tripe, spleen, and liver, lung, pleura, and epicardium | do. (slight) | destroyed do. do. |
| 1 | do. | Lungs and spleen | Tuberculosis | do. do. |
| 1 | do. | Lungs and great omentum | do. | do. do. |
| 2 | Oxen | Lungs | do. | do. do. |
| 2 | Cows | do. | do. | do. do. |
| 1 | Ox | Peritoneum of diaphragm, &c. | do. | Affected membranes stripped |
| 1 | do. | Generalised | do. | Carcase & organs destroyed |
| 1 | do. | Great omentum (slight) | do. | Affected parts do. |
| 1 | do. | Lungs | Hoose | Affected organs do. |
| 3 | Oxen | Livers | Parasitic (Ech. Vet.) | do. do. |
| 1 | Cow | do. | do. do. | do. do. |
| 27 | Sheep | Liver and Lungs | do. do. | do. do. |
| 33 | do | Livers | do. do. | do. do. |
| 15 | do. | Lungs | do. do. | do. do. |
| 40 | Oxen | Livers | do. (Dis. Hep) | do. do. |
| 3 | Cows | do | do. do. | do. do. |
| 2 | Oxen | Lungs | do. do. | do. do. |
| 1 | Sheep | Liver | do do. | do. do. |
| 5 | do. | Lungs | Pseudo-tuberculosis | do. do. |
| 1 | do. | Liver and Lungs | do. do. | do. do. |
| 15 | Oxen | Livers | Abscess | do. do, |
| 3 | Sheep | Lungs | do. | do. do. |
| 2 | Oxen | Heads and Tongues | Actinomycosis | do. do. |
| 1 | Sheep | Entire carcase | Lymphadenoma | Carcase destroyed |
| 1 | do. | Fore-quarters | Hydraemia | Parts affected destroyed |
| 2 | do. | Lungs | Inflammation | Affected organs do. |
| 1 | do. | Lungs and heart | do. | do. do. |
Whilst, however, it is possible to obtain high quality in the animals slaughtered and a
very satisfactory conduct of premises (which are looked upon as sources of nuisance by many
people) without undue friction by constant periodical inspection, I regret to say that there
are still some undesirable features in the preparation of carcases and organs for human consumption,
for which no remedy is provided in the bye-laws or the Public Health Acts. I
refer especially to tne blowing of lamb and veal by the aid of the human lungs, in which
connection you will remember my remarks in last year's report on the same subject, and your
own comment thereon in the previous year's report.
This abominable practice to which the apprentice soon becomes accustomed is still carried
on at most of the slaughter-houses, without a thought on the part of the operator, and apparently
with as little thought on the part of his employer, who in most other respects is careful