London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Greenwich 1967

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Greenwich Borough]

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244
infested with liver fluke, or just under 20 per cent, of all cattle
admitted to the slaughterhouse during 1967. This constitutes a
slight improvement on earlier years but much more needs to be
done by way of cleaning up grazing land before this parasite is
eliminated.
Of the 47 pig carcases condemned during the year, 8 of these
were of pigs found to be dead on arrival at the slaughterhouse.
Thirty-four others were condemned because of multiple abscesses,
the infection in every case thought to have been introduced by tail
biting. The other 5 carcases were rejected for a variety of septic
conditions.
Three sheep carcases were condemned because of multiple
abscesses.
Looking to the future it is hoped that a much greater effort will
be made by all concerned to see that livestock being presented for
slaughter arrive in a more cleanly state than at present, particularly
cattle and sheep.
Licensing of Slaughterhouses, Slaughtermen and Tripe Boiler
Premises—There is one Slaughterhouse and one Tripe Boiler in
the Borough, the licences of which were duly renewed during the
year. Eight licences to slaughtermen were renewed and one new
slaughterman's licence granted.
Butchers' Shops—Frequent visits are made to these shops and
in addition to the 111 formal inspections carried out, insanitary
defects were remedied in 75 instances.
As with other premises, legal proceedings are instituted only
after disregard of the Officer's warning and in no instance was this
necessary.
Public Health (Imported Food) Regulations, 1937 and 1948
The London Borough of Greenwich with a river frontage of
some 9 miles with more than 40 wharves and two of London's
largest and most modern cold stores receives a considerable percentage
of London's imported meat stored on behalf of various
importers. In addition, considerable quantities of fresh fruit, tinned
foods and miscellaneous provisions are dealt with. Visits to wharves
and cold stores are made by the Food Inspectors and imported
food generally is carefully supervised.
Imported Food Rejected—Unsound or diseased imported meat
when surrendered is passed for non-edible and refining purposes,
and other unsound food, with the exception of fruit pulp and juice,
processed for stock feeding.
The following foods were rejected at the wharves:—