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28 on the sanitary condition ok
to do by his master. A part of it was eaten by one person
only, and it made him ill. I secured the remainder of the
head and the smell on cutting into it was quite sufficient to show
that decay had set in. I submittcd the meat to Dr. Newman of
the Bacteriological Department, King's College, who was good
enough to examine it, and he informed me that the pork was
full of organisms, principally proteus vulgaris and bacillus coli
communis with a number of saprophytic bacteria. The butcher
compensated the man who had bought it.
In 1897, on the initiative of your Board, a resolution was sent
to the Local Government Board and County Council by 21 of the
Sanitary Authorities of the Metropolis expressing the view that it
was desirable that by-laws should be made, giving power to the
Authorities to control places where food was prepared, stored, or
sold, and to prevent the use of places unsuitable for the purpose.
During that year some further communications were made to the
Council on the subject and the matter was under the consideration
of one of the Council's Committees. With the view of obtaining
some information which might guide them, Dr. Hamer, one of
the Assistant Medical Officers was directed to visit various districts,
and he issued a lengthy report detailing his investigations to the
Council. He agreed with your Board in the opinion that more
systematic and thorough inspection of places where food is prepared
and sold is required, and that the law needed amendment
in order to deal with cases in which places used for the storage
and preparation of food are used as sleeping apartments, or
communicate directly with water-closets, or are otherwise liable
to contamination by impurity.
The Public Health Committee reported to the Council on 7th
March, 1899, that they would shortly have under consideration
the question of amendments which it is desirable should be
made in the " Public Health (London) Act" and they would
consider Dr. Hamer's report in that connection.
Sale of Food and Drugs Acts.—The Acts relating to the sale
of food and drugs have been systematically enforced throughout
the District as in former years under the supervision of your