View report page

14
A large quantity of food was salvaged from shops and stores
which had been seriously damaged, and after inspection that which
was fit for food was handed over to the Ministry of Food Salvage
Division for disposal. Food which was fit only for animal feeding
was diverted to that use and food which was totally unfit was
destroyed. Considerable assistance in these salvage operations was
rendered by the Light Rescue Parties.
One thousand, four hundred and sixty-six samples of food and
drugs (1,407 informal and 59 formal) were submitted to the public
analyst for analysis. The majority of these were of the staple
articles of diet, such as rationed foods, and it is of interest to note
that among the rationed foods not one instance of adulteration
occurred. Although at times it may have been felt the quantity
was not excessive, the quality was beyond reproach.
Approximately 23 tons of food, excluding war damage mentioned
above were certified as being unfit for human consumption; all
unsound food suitable for animal feeding was diverted to that
purpose.
Three hundred and eighteen pigs were inspected at the time of
slaughter and one pig and a small amount of offal were certified as
diseased and unfit for food and were destroyed. These pigs in
nearly every case were the property of pig clubs, and while there is
no legal authority for them to be inspected as they were not for
sale, it has been mutually agreed in every case with the clubs that
post-mortem inspection should be carried out. A small number of
"casualty" pigs were inspected on behalf of the Ministry of Food;
these were pigs which had been slaughtered either owing to the
animal having met with an accident or some other reason necessitating
immediate slaughter.
Scabies and Verminous Persons.
Cleansing Centre.
For many years past there have been agreements with two
adjoining boroughs for the use on payment of their cleansing
centres for Lambeth residents. The Public Health Committee
agreed in principle to the conversion of premises adjoining the
disinfecting station into a cleansing centre, but the impossibility
of gaining permission to do the work, even if labour and materials
were available, has held up the project for the time being.
A total of 1,913 persons were treated at the cleansing station and
given 3,659 baths, compared with 1,939 persons treated in the
previous year.