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1899 188
by the Local Government Board in the month of March have caused a revolution
in the manner of dealing with carcases affected with tuberculosis. Hitherto the
decision given by Sheriff Berry at Glasgow in 1889, was very generally accepted as
the standard of what meat should be passed or condemned. As that decision undoubtedly
caused a great loss to the butchering trade, no one could help sympathising
with the butcher who bought a sound looking animal, killed it, and derived
therefrom only the price of the hide (the Inspector having taken the carcase because
it was slightly infected with tuberculosis). Had this system still been, in force,
there would have been within the Islington slaughterhouses 68 carcases of cows,
seized and destroyed during the nine months March to December, lost to butchers.
Taking the average price of these cows at £ 10, they would have lost £680, whereas
by acting under the new Orders (which are simply the recommendations of the
Tuberculosis Commission) only six carcases were destroyed as unfit for human
food. There has thus been a saving to the butchers of £620.
I have to thank you for the kind assistance you have given me in deciding as
to what should be passed or detained, for although the Orders are of great help,
yet much is left to the Inspector's discretion, due to the use of the words " may
be seized," instead of "shall be." In this respect I think there is no greater proof
that the trade are satisfied they are being justly dealt with than the fact that not
a single complaint has been made during the year about any carcase that was detained
as unfit for human food. Yet I fail to see how there could be, because each
one was allowed to hang until the owner was satisfied, and in no case was an expert
called in to contradict our decision.
Only one prosecution was instituted, and that only after the parties had
been twice warned within a week for having unsound food on their premises. The
magistrate was satisfied that the meat seized was unfit for human food, and ordered
it to be destroyed, but he was not satisfied that it would have been used for human
food, so he dismissed the summons.
No meat arrived at the railway stations from the country or elsewhere during
the year.
There were 50 licensed slaughterhouses within the Parish during the year,
but the renewal of three licenses was refused by the London Country Council in
December, the reason being " that these slaughterhouses had not been used for the
purpose of slaughtering cattle for a period of nine months." There is, therefore,
now 47 licensed slaughterhouses on the list.
Although some of these premises are in very close proximity to dwelling houses,
they have been kept clean, and the By-laws of the County Council carefully observed.
As the slaughterhouses are scattered over a very wide area it is almost
impossible to inspect every carcase, because the killing is done at all hours.
One of these slaughterhouses is conducted as if it were a public abattoir. It
is eminently fitted for this purpose, having large and good lairs. Great credit is
due to the proprietor for the' cleanly way in which it is kept and the by-laws observed.
In the absence of properly constructed public abattoirs this class of place
is very desirable; it suits the convenience of the butchers, facilitates the inspection
of the animals killed, and reduces the number of visits required by the County
Council and Vestry Inspectors.