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samples deposited was submitted to chemical examination and found to contain
soluble chlorine to the extent of 10 parts only per 100,000 of flock. It would
appear, therefore, that the complaint was not well founded, or that there was no
connection between the rag flock complained of and the samples deposited in the
City.
In the course of this enquiry I ascertained that a number of mattresses which
were filled with rag flock were being offered for sale by Government Departments,
and that directions had been given that all flock in the possession of the Surplus
Government Property Disposal Board was to be sold under a guarantee from the
buyers that it would only be used as waste for manure. A similar provision is made in
connection with the sale of soiled mattresses.
FOOD SUPPLIES.
HANDLING OF MEAT.—A considerable responsibility rests upon the
Sanitary Committee to ensure that the food passing through the City is of a satisfactory
character, and the following matters are of interest. Meat is purchased
at Smithfield by butchers from all parts of Greater London, and even from districts
outside. It is removed from the market either in the purchaser's own carts, or
in vans belonging to the numerous carriers who attend the market. From the
stalls in the market it is carried to the waiting carts either by the purchasers or by
market porters. The meat is either conveyed in trucks which are provided, or on
the backs and shoulders of these persons.
The number of carts in waiting to receive meat is so considerable that during
the busier hours they form practically a continuous barricade round the market.
The rear parts of the carts are brought up to the edge of the causeway.
These vans and carts carry a considerable amount of meat, in the form of
quarters or cuts of larger or smaller size and offal. The division of the meat
facilitates increased loading.
It often happens that the supply arrives at the carts more quickly than it
can be packed, and, as a consequence, it is allowed to stand about on the trucks
for a longer time than is desirable. During this waiting period the meat is sometimes
deposited on the footway. It should be noted that the sectioning of meat
results in large areas of muscular tissues being exposed, and as the cut surface is
moist, dust readily settles on it with the resulting disadvantages which are common
to dust deposition; dust is excessive in dry weather as the streets in the loading-up
areas are fouled by the large number of horses which stand about. As regards the
pavement, I need only mention that there is considerable fouling of the surface
by blood and particles of fat, etc., which are trodden into a hard layer mixed with
street refuse. The further risk of contamination by animals is obvious.
I have had occasion officially to complain of one more than usually gross
instance of piling meat on the ground. In this case the meat was separated from
the wet ground by a layer of coarse sacking, the edge of the cover being also practically
flush with the sides of the pile. The surroundings were foul.
As regards the carts, the general practice is to cover the bottom of the cart
with straw. In other cases a kind of sacking is used with or without an under
layer of straw, and in exceptional cases white calico or some similar matter is
used. Some of the carts do not come to the market in a thoroughly clean condition.
They are certainly washed at times but not every day. The straw may be
clean but it is not a suitable material on which to place the cut sections of meat.
The cloths I have seen used day after day, being washed, in some cases, not oftener
than once a week. Blood-stained cloths should be washed before being used again.
White cloths are more desirable, as staining and dirt readily show and this results
in greater care being displayed.
The procedure during packing is open to criticism. I have often seen, even
on wet days, men, whose boots were soiled with road dirt, get into the cart to
fill the front part. In doing so they soil the straw or cloth at the rear and on this
soiled part meat is afterwards laid. If a white cover were used this would probably
be rolled up at the back, whilst the front was being packed, and it would be
straightened out as the packing progressed.
I have seen a dog in a cart in which uncovered joints of meat were lying, and
the dog would have been driven away in the cart if I had not objected. My protest