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30 food supervision.
Supervision.—Last year 358 first inspections were made, and 34 workrooms were measured.
The re-inspections numbered 2,703. In 1921,415 first inspections were made, and 2,100 re-inspections.
At 40 workshops the Abstracts of the Factory Acts were not displayed, and notices thereof were sent
to the Home Office. Workrooms were used as bedrooms at 33 premises.
The Home Office forwarded 5 complaints during the year, 3 relating to dirty closets, and 1 each
to overcrowding and inadequate ventilation in workrooms.
The Inspector discovered and dealt with 202 infringements of the Acts, including 160 of dirty
premises, 2 each of overcrowding and inadequate ventilation, 8 of defective closet apparatus, and 2 of
want of separate accommodation in workshops where women were employed. In comparison with
the previous year there was a considerable increase—from 34 to 160—in the number of dirty premises,
but a decrease—from 25 to 8—in the number of defective closets. Eight Notices under the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, were served and complied with.
Infectious Diseases.—The cases occurring on workshop premises increased from 20 in 1921 to
62 last year, of which 33 were on outworkers' premises. Of the 62 cases, 19 occurred in the workers'
families, 8 of the families being outworkers. The increase in frequency was mainly due to the epidemic
of measles, 29 cases last year, 1 in 1921. There were 14 cases of scarlet fever (12 in 1921), 8 of whooping
cough, 6 of diphtheria (3 in 1921), 3 of chickenpox and one each of German measles and influenzal
pneumonia.
Bakehouses.—The number of these premises remains unchanged at 65, 38 being factory bakehouses.
The underground bakehouses numbered 46, 26 of them being factories. The inspections
during the year numbered 591. The employed numbered 317 males, including 17 under 18 years of
age. The employment of youths has not hitherto been observed in bakehouses.
FOOD SUPERVISION.
Slaughterhouses.—One slaughterhouse was closed during the year owing to the licensee neglecting
to apply for renewal of the licence, leaving 4 premises in use. Very little slaughtering is done at one
of these. Last year 2,087 animals—80 bullocks and 2,007 sheep—were killed. During 1909-13
the annual average was 4,434, a figure which demonstrates the shrinkage in trade of locally killed
animals.
The Inspector visited the slaughterhouses on 233 occasions during the past year (174 times
in 1921). He caused parts of one bullock to be destroyed on account of tuberculosis, and 2 sheeps'
livers as parasitic.
Food Shops.—At the end of 1921 there were 440 premises on the Register, which total was reduced
to 437 during 1922, one butcher's and 2 greengrocers' shops being closed. At 5 places fish curing
is carried on, and at 10 sausages are made.
The number of milk vendors was reduced by one to 95, as also the description of premises at
which milk is sold. The one cowhouse still remains in use. The inspections made during the year
totalled 949, including a quarterly inspection of the cowhouse.
Milk: Tuberculosis.—During the autumn 20 samples of milk were obtained, 15 from consignments
in course of transit, and 5 from retailers' shops, for bacteriological examination. In none of
the samples was any evidence of the tubercle bacillus found. In 1900, 39 samples were examined
for the same purpose. On that occasion the bacillus was found in two samples.
The results of the examinations made last year are the more satisfactory as the Medical Officer
of Health of the City of London had a very short time before the work was undertaken in Paddington,
reported the discovery of the bacillus in a very large proportion of samples taken on his instructions.
Infectious Disease.—One case of scarlet fever occurred at a milk shop. In the families of milk
carriers, or in houses where such families resided, 17 cases of infectious disease were reported, viz.,
scarlet fever 10, diphtheria 4, and measles 3. No difficulty was experienced in securing all necessary
precautions being taken—including, if required, the swabbing of the milk carriers—and no spread of
infection was discovered.
Ice Cream.—Last year 38 new vendors were added to the Register, bringing the total number
up to 125, 5 more than in 1914, and the highest total so far recorded. Ice cream made within the
Borough is sold from 8 barrows having local pitches and 2 others with pitches outside the Borough.
The Inspector made 163 visits during the year to places where the "cream" is made or sold. No
case of infectious disease occurred on the premises where the cream was made, or in the families
of the vendors.
Food destroyed.—There was no seizure of unsound food, but 10,416 lbs. of foodstuffs were surrendered
for destruction, including 3,584 lbs. (34.4 per cent.) in course of transit, and 224 lbs. from
slaughter houses. There was a slight increase (8 per cent.) in the total amount destroyed, due to the
increase in amount (from 140 lbs. to 3,584 lbs.) dealt with in course of transit.