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The mechanical blowing is apt to give a false impression as to the quality of the meat.
It is not really necessary. It is done to give the meat a better appearance ; in hot weather,
especially, one can conceive that meat might be adversely affected by the process. The
purity of the air which is pumped into the carcase is a matter for serious consideration.
As regards the inflation of fish, I understand this is uncommon now, for two reasons:
(1) it is hardly worth while for the labour involved; (2) fish are now mostly gutted before
being exposed for sale
It need hardly be said that the inflation by the mouth is a disgusting practice, and
ought to be suppressed.
Food—Inspection of.—Inspector Wilkinson reports that during the year he has
paid 982 visits to the 18 Slaughter Houses now on the register, including one Horse
Slaughter House, and that he has ascertained that 9,810 animals were killed therein,
namely, 844 oxen and cows, 50 calves, 6,585 sheep and lambs, and 2,331 horses for human
consumption, practically the whole of which were exported. These were mostly of good
quality and free from disease, but in 42 cases meat and organs found to be diseased were
destroyed (vide table on page 53).
The food destroyed or otherwise disposed of (chiefly for pigs' food) so as to prevents
its use for human food was as follows:
Tons
cwts.
qrs.
lbs.
Diseased meat and organs from slaughter-houses
—
11
2
18*
Diseased or unsound meat, etc., from other sources
—
2
3
11
Fish
—
16
3
24
Fruit, Vegetables, etc.
9
14
1
6
Unwholesome Fruit Pulp, Jam, etc.
—
13
3
23
Total
11
19
2
26
* Of this quantity 6 cwt. 1 qr. 10 lbs. was Tuberculous.
The total amount of unsound or diseased meat, fish, fruit, and other food destroyed
Was 11 tons 19 cwts. 2 qrs. 26 lbs. The diseases which affected animal food are set out in
detail on page 53.
Shops, etc., Inspection of.— The number of shops and places where foodstuffs are
sold may be approximated for the year as follows:
Butchers, provision dealers, etc., shops, 210; meat, provisions, rabbits, tinned foods,
etc., stalls, 24; food preparation establishments, 18; fish shops, 100; fish stalls, 12;
fruit shops, 194; and about 60 fruit, etc., stalls and barrows. To these 17,590 visits were
paid, apportioned as follows:
Butchers, Provision Dealers, etc., Shops 7,101 visits.
Food Preparation Establishments 223 „
Butcher, Provision etc., Stalls 1,438 „
Fish Shops 1,377 „
Fish Stalls 734 „
Fruit Shops 2,404 „
Fruit Stalls 4,313 „
Total 17,590