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44
It is interesting to note that the average fat content of Kensington samples exceeded the
Ministry of Agriculture standard by over 20 per cent. or, in other words, the samples would have
been returned as genuine by the Public Analyst even though about '20 per cent. of the fat might
have been removed bv a fraudulent vendor.
The table shows that the average fat and non-fatty solid content for each month of the
year is well above the legal standard and makes it clear that suspicion should fall on every
sample which at any time of the year shows a fat content as low as 3 per cent.
Milk Utensils in Infected Houses.—The practice commenced in 1922 of sending information to
milk retailers supplying milk to houses in which cases of infectious disease are being nursed at
home was continued throughout the year, and from the date of the receipt of my notification to the
date of a later communication stating that the house is free from infection, no milk vessel belonging
to the dealer has been allowed to enter the home in question.
The procedure seems to meet with general favour and the dealers invariably express their
thanks for the information received.
Cowsheds.—There are no cowsheds in Kensington.
MEAT.
Slaughter Houses.—These are licensed annually by the London County Council in the month
of October. Up to 1923, six licences were held in respect of slaughterhouses situated within the
Borough, but only five were renewed in 1924 and 1925. The slaughterhouses; now licensed are
kept in a cleanly condition, and from a structural point of view are not open to objection. During
the year over 1,000 pigs were killed in the slaughterhouse in Walmer Road and the licence in respect
of the premises was renewed by the London County Council in October, subject to the same conditions
as in the previous year, namely, that the premises be not used for the purpose of slaughtering on
more than twenty Sundays in the year, that slaughtering on Sundays be carried out in the forenoon
only, that the licensee do inform the Council of the Royal Borough of Kensington on the previous
day when he intends to slaughter animals on a Sunday, and that on week-days cattle be slaughtered
between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. in the months of May, June, July, August and September,
and between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p m., during the remainder of the year.
By-laws prescribing humane slaughtering came into operation in London during 1924, and
approved methods have been adopted at each of the slaughterhouses in the Borough. The
Council's Food Inspector makes frequent inspections to satisfy himself that these humane methods
of slaughtering are applied satisfactorily.
Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924.—These Regulations, made by the Minister of Health
in pursuance of his powers under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food) Act, 1907, came into
operation on the 1st April, 1925. They provide that no person may slaughter any animal without
first giving verbal or written notice to the Council of his intention. Upon receipt of such notice,
the Council's Food Inspector attends during the slaughtering process, whether by day or night, and
examines all carcases immediately afterwards. During the year three hundred and forty-five
slaughterhouse inspections were made.

Meat condemned during the period from the 1st April to the 31st December was as follows:—
Carcases (including organs) 4
Forequarters 2
Plucks 13
Heads 13
Livers 27
Lungs 112