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105
IMPORTATION OF CHINESE PORK.
On the 24th July last, the s.s. Palermo, from China, arrived at the Royal
Albert Docks with a large number of frozen pigs' carcases on board.
In accordance with the Foreign Meat Regulations, notice was served upon
the owners by the Customs prohibiting the removal of the pigs, and the
Medical Officer of the Port was also notified of their arrival.
As trichinosis is common among Chinese pigs, Dr. Williams, Medical Officer
at the Port, examined, microscopically, portions of the diaphragm and other
muscular tissues from 100 pigs, but without finding any indication of
trichinae. Owing to there being insufficient accommodation at the cold air
stores at the Port at the time of the ship's arrival, and the delay to the ship
that would have been incurred in examining the pigs on ship board, the
owners were permitted to remove the whole consignment to cold air stores in
the City, when the carcases were thawed out from time to time as the market
required and examined by your Officers.

Each carcase had a label attached stating that it had been "medically
examined, and certified free from disease," but it was evident that this
inspection was very incomplete, as many of the pigs were found to be
tuberculous and were consequently seized.
Many severe comments with regard to the importation of Chinese pork
appeared in the Press and elsewhere. There seems to have been a general
impression that it was not unlikely that, as pigs in China generally act as
scavengers, the consignment might have consisted of pigs of that class. This
view appears to have been erroneous, as the President of the Local Government
Board confirmed, by reference to the British Consul at Hankow, the statement
made by the importer that the pigs in question were country bred and fed
on rice.
The animals were of the black and white variety and raised in the district
between Tunting Lake and Lokow, where the pig breeding industry is a very
large one, and where the best class of pigs are reared. They were brought
down to Hankow by boat and there killed, and examined as previously
referred to.