View report page

128
Rats and Mice.—It was stated by Mr. A. that no trouble had
been experienced with rats or mice, two cats having access to the
shop and back basement. No rats had ever been seen, and no mice
for the last four years. No poison had been kept on the premises
since that time, when some was used for mice. No droppings of
these animals could be found.
The tenant of the front basement stated that she got two cats
six months ago as she had been troubled with mice, but since then
she had never seen any mice.
Suspected Food.—As ham was under suspicion, it was ascertained
that Mr. A. had had delivered to his shop two gammons
on 12th August, and two on 16th August, from a firm in the
East End of London. The Health Department concerned was
immediately informed with a view to ascertaining possible
contamination at the wholesalers. The gammons were of Danish
origin, being imported " green " by the wholesalers and smoked
by them, and cooked by Mr. A. on his premises on Friday,
20th August, and on sale in the shop as from Saturday, 21st August.
The bacon in the shop was also obtained from the same wholesalers.
The cooking of the gammons was carried out in the back
basement room, which has a stone floor with no drainage and
walls of unsurfaced brick. The area is small, being the length of
the window, and the room was badly lighted, the ceiling, which
consisted of unsealed floor joists, being slightly above the yard level.
It was covered with cobwebs. Gas was provided for artificial
lighting.
The room was found to be full of crates of tinned goods,
tea chests and such articles, no unwrapped food being found.
Shelves were fixed on some of the walls. The copper used for
cooking the gammons was made of enamelled iron, heated by gas
and placed close to the wall; a wooden cover was provided.
It would be impossible under these conditions to keep the
basement in a satisfactory condition for the preparation of food.
All the cooking was carried out by Mr. A. himself, gammons being
the only articles dealt with. Mr. A.'s premises were not registered
as required by the London County Council (General Powers) Act,
1932 (now by the Public Health (London) Act, 1936).