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74
sold. This would be placed on the ground while the man was serving
from it. and on again being dipped into the milk, any matter adhering
to it would be washed off and remain in the churn. The Medical
Officer of Health of Southwark informs me that the man from whom
Hughes bought the milk, and from whom he hired the barrow, at that
time sold milk in the street.
Hughes, having failed to appear at Westminster Police Court in
answer to a summons, was arrested on a warrant. The hearing was
adjourned to October 16th to enable Hughes to produce, as a witness
the man from whom he bought the milk, but at the adjourned hearing
no evidence was offered in defence, and the Magistrate (Mr. Horace
Smith) convicted Hughes under Section 47 of the Public Health Act,
1891, and inflicted the maximum penalty of six months' imprisonment
with hard labour.
Pigs' Carcases Seized.—One of these pigs had tuberculous glands on
both sides of the neck which were not, however, very apparent until
the head was taken off. It was alleged that the pig had been
examined and certified as sound in Holland, but the owner was unable
to produce the 'certificate. There was, however, some evidence that a
label had been fixed with wire in the usual place.
The other pig, which came from Ostend, through the Central Meat
Market, had a large ischio-rectal abscess full of very offensive matter ;
the pig was somewhat emaciated, and had probably suffered from
septic absorption. It appears to have escaped official inspection in the
market, but its condition was at once detected by the retail dealer and
the inspector as it was being unloaded outside the shop.
Both pigs were destroyed under a Magistrate's Order, but no further
action was possible as it could not be proved that the firms in the
Central Meat Market who sold them, were aware, at the time of sale,
that the pigs were in a condition liable to be seized. In the first case,
also, there was the probability that the pig had been examined and
passed in Holland.
Boracic Acid in Imported Meat.—The attention of the Local
Government Board has been drawn to the fact that in two samples of
tripe and kidneys sold in Westminster, boric acid to the amount of 49½
and 69 grains per lb., respectively, had been found. It appears that
these articles are imported from America, packed in barrels in a
solution of the acid. Under the Public Health (Regulations as to Food)
Act, 1907, the Local Government Board have power to deal with such
food stuffs at the port of entry.*
*The Board have since issued a report by one of their Inspectors (Dr. Buchanan), who
recommends that the importation of such food stuffs so preserved should be prevented.
There is also a further report by Dr. McFadden with regard to tripe.