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to resort to drastic action to enforce compliance with the Regulations.
The Meat Traders have realised the value of the Regulations
and have been willing to comply with any reasonable
suggestion made for the protection of the meat.
At the end of the year there were 157 butcher shops in the
Borough, and of these 132 are fitted with glass fronts. In those
shops which do not possess glass fronts other precautions have
been taken.
In addition to the above butchers' shops there were 561 provision
dealers' premises, 5 provision dealers' stalls, 6 offal shops,
which came under the Meat Regulations. These places were
visited systematically by the Inspectors.
Meat Transport.
The methods of transport and handling required constant
supervision to prevent fouling of the meat. It will possibly take
some years before those engaged in the transport of meat will
realise the importance of the prevention of contamination and
the necessity to take steps for the observance of cleanliness.
Two warning letters were sent during the year to persons
engaged in the transport of meat, pointing out that they were not
carrying out the Regulations, and that further steps would be
taken if an improvement was not made forthwith.
Suspected Food Poisoning.
In April, 1926, the attention of the Department was directed
to several cases of illness in a family in East Dulwich, resulting
in the death of one child, which the doctor in attendance thought
was due to food poisoning. After careful investigation and submitting
specimens of blood to the Ministry of Health, the conclusion
was arrived at that the illness was probably due to gastric
influenza and not to food poisoning.
Two further suspected outbreaks of food poisoning in the
Borough were also investigated last summer, in which two members
of one family and five persons of another family were
involved. In the former case the patients were removed to St.
Giles' Hospital for observation, and subsequently notified as
suffering from typhoid fever. The latter family all suffered from
diarrhoea, pain, vomiting and giddiness. The investigation showed
that the cause of the illness was probably due to the consumption
of a meat pie which was made at home. All the patients made
a good recovery.