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It will be seen that the amount of diseased meat was small. This was due to the
comparative absence of animals of doubtful condition, which are usually slaughtered in country
districts. The greater part of the meat condemned was infected with tuberculosis. The lungs of
sheep were frequently found to be affected with Strongylus Refuscens, a parasitic condition which
does not affect the remainder of the carcase. The presence of fluke (Distoma Hepaticum) necessitated
the condemnation of a number of livers. All meat which has been condemned is taken as
soon as practicable to the Council's Destructor at Wood Lane, a charge of one shilling per consignment
being made.
Article 15 of the Regulations empowers the Minister, upon application by a local authority,
to authorise the use of a distinctive mark of approved design in connection with meat inspected and
found wholesome. No action with reference to this matter has been taken by the Council.
The Regulations prescribe for the protection of meat from contamination by dirt and flies in
shops, on stalls and during transit. The administration of this requirement has been rendered
somewhat difficult, owing to the various interpretations which could be placed upon the Regulations
dealing with this matter. After conferences with the traders, the Ministry of Health issued a
Circular, dated 12th June, 1925, which stated that the provision of glass fronts to butchers' shops
in all cases was not contemplated, and that the precautions which it would be reasonable to require
under the Regulations must depend on the circumstances of individual cases.
In the early part of the year, I had a conference with butchers in the Borough and from time to
time I interviewed meat traders individually and communicated with many by letter. Speaking
generally, the Council have every reason to feel satisfied with the way in which butchers have
responded to the demands made upon them. The following table shows the extent to which efforts
have been made on the part of the butchers to comply with the spirit of the Regulations :—
Number of butchers' shops in the Borough 124
„ „ „ „ fitted with glass fronts before 1st April (the date on which
the Regulations came into operation) 90
„ „ „ „ fitted with glass fronts at the end of 1925 117
„ „ ,, „ not fitted with glass fronts at the end of 1925 but where
other precautions are taken 7
It will be seen that with seven exceptions every butcher's shop in Kensington has a glass front.
It is true that during the busy hours of the day the glass windows in many cases are lifted, but
there seems to be a growing tendency on the part of butchers to keep their shop windows permanently
closed and this movement is being encouraged by the officers of the Public Health Department.
In the seven shops which do not possess glass fronts, precautions have been taken which would
probably satisfy the Magistrates that the Regulations have been adequately observed; and at the
present time there is not one shop in the Borough where the Council could, with any prospect of
success, issue a summons for non-compliance with the Regulations.
It should, however, be pointed out that in many cases the glass fronts are kept open at times of
the day when trade does not require this. It is significant that in the better-class areas in the
Borough it is usual for the windows to be kept closed at all times, probably because traders recognise
that the customers in their areas appreciate the necessity of care being taken to keep meat free
from contamination. With the advance of public opinion on the question of clean food, it is hoped
that the officers of the Public Health Department will be able to persuade all butchers to keep
their shop windows closed much more than is the case at the present time.
The precautions taken by those traders who retail meat from street stalls are not adequate.
On the introduction of the Meat Regulations, it was found that the existing officers of the Public
Health Department were unable to carry out the extra work entailed, consequently the Council
appointed an additional Inspector. The special duties of this Officer are (a) the inspection and
supervision of slaughterhouses and dairies, and (b) the administration of the Sale of Food and
Drugs Acts.
Ice Cream.—At the end of the year, one hundred and seventy-one premises were shown in
the Register of places within the Borough where ice cream is prepared or sold, eight having been
added during the year. The trade is mainly regulated under the London County Council (General
Powers) Act, 1902, which makes it an offence to store ice cream in a sleeping room or in any shed or
room in which there is an inlet to a drain. Vendors of ice cream are also required to notify the
occurrence of infectious disease among their employees or persons living on their premises. The Act
further provides that every itinerant vendor shall exhibit on his barrow the name and address of
the person from whom the ice cream has been obtained.