London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Camberwell 1936
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Camberwell.
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71
These shops and stalls were continuously under supervision
and 20 notices were served for various purposes during the year.
On one occasion meat was surrendered by the retailer as unfit
for food.
Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933.
Licences were granted by this Authority under the provisions
of this Act to three slaughtermen employed at the two slaughter
houses in the Borough.
Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924.
These regulations were designed to protect meat from contamination
in shops, on stalls and during transit. Although a
glazed front to a butcher's shop is not compulsory it is pleasing to
report that of the 163 butchers' shops in the Borough, there are
now only 18 shops where this structural improvement has not been
carried out.
On 4 occasions during the year it was necessary for the
Inspector to administer a caution to carmen for carelessness in the
handling of meat during transit.
Slaughterhouses.
There were two licensed slaughter houses on the register at
the end of 1936.
The Food Inspector paid 95 visits to these premises and was
present on every occasion when slaughtering was in progress for the
purpose of inspecting the carcases and organs for the presence of
disease. The number of animals killed at these establishments
was 558.
The following table shows the number of organs condemned at the time of slaughtering and the disease with which they were affected. The diseased meat was removed and destroyed at the Council's Depot at Peckham Park Road.
| Cause of destruction | Carcases, including organs. | Fore-quarters. | Hind-quarters. | Head. | Tongue. | Lungs. | Heart. | Liver. | Stomach. | Spleen. | Mesenteries. | Intestines. | Kidneys. | Udders. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cattle. | ||||||||||||||
| Tuberculosis | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Fluke | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Abscess | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| SHEEP. | ||||||||||||||
| Parasitic diseases | – | – | – | – | – | 15 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| PIGS. | ||||||||||||||
| Tuberculosis | – | 2 | – | 13 | – | 7 | 7 | 7 | – | – | 7 | – | – | – |
| Cirrhosis | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 4 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Abscess | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Pneumonia | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | 3 | 3 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Totals | – | 2 | 1 | 13 | – | 32 | 13 | 18 | – | – | 7 | – | – | – |