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76
In view of the nature of the disease find the ease with which infection is conveyed,
the Board emphasize the importance of a strict supervision over the meat supply by
those Officers entrusted with the safeguarding of the public health, especially with a
view to the distribution of meat or offal showing signs of this disease.
The parts of carcases and the organs requiring especially careful examination, are
the heads, feet, and tongues, and whenever lesions or signs suspiciously indicative of
Foot and Mouth Disease are discovered, the Inspecting Officer should communicate
with the Inspector appointed under the Diseases of Animals Act and retain for inspection
the suspected part or parts, in order that any further action which may be considered
necessary to trace the disease to its source may be taken.
Stringency of examination is a sine qua non in the administration of the Meat
Inspection Section of the Department, and all the Officers of that branch of the service
are fully competent to detect suspicious cases of Foot and Mouth Disease.
Moreover, the Veterinary Inspector in charge is also the Inspector under the
Diseases of Animals Act, and it will be obvious that the relationship thus established
must operate to the advantage of the public service.
CONDEMNED MEAT SHED.
HARROW ALLEY.
For the storage of meat condemned at the Aldgate Slaughterhouses preparatory
to removal in the Contractors' vans, a wooden box was erected on the public way in
Harrow Alley as long ago as 1883.
From time to time complaints have been made as to the offensive smells emanating
from this receptacle, and although everything was done to eliminate any nuisance, it
was found impossible by reason of the absorbent qualities of the wood to regard this
method of the storage of unsound meat as anything but objectionable. Further, in
view of the recently adopted system of continuous inspection of the carcases at the time
of slaughter and the consequent increase in the quantity of meat seized, the capacity of
the box was altogether inadequate for the purpose for which it was designed.
Moreover, after so many years' use its repair or replacement became a matter of
immediate necessity, and advantage was taken of the opportunity thus afforded to adopt
more comprehensive and hygienic methods.
Arrangements were made for the leasing of a stable in Harrow Alley in close
proximity to the Aldgate Slaughterhouses, at an annual rental of £30, in which could
be housed one of the Corporation's new tank vans. All meat condemned in the
Slaughterhouses could then be placed at once into this receptacle, which would daily
discharge its contents at the Contractors' premises.
FISH SUPPLIES.
223,926 tons of fish, of which 155,286 were land-borne and 68,640 water-borne,
were received at or near Billingsgate Market during the year.
There was a decrease of 8,091 tons in the land deliveries, and a decrease of
2,451 tons in the deliveries by water.