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

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Islington 1912

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Islington, Metropolitan Borough of]

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272
1912]
just been received on the premises from their Cold Stores in the City, and was being examined
by the factory manager piecemeal at the time of my visit, and such as were tainted
were being thrown on the floor.
I then made a careful examination of the whole of the consignment, and such parts
as were in the least tainted were rejected. Ultimately 405 lbs. were surrendered and
destroyed.
I at once got into communication on the telephone with the firm at Smithfield
Market, and told them that they must be prepared ,to take the responsibility for the soundness
of all meat delivered at the sausage factory, which could not be regarded as a suitable
place for the examination and sorting of meat of a doubtful condition, and that in future
all meat delivered there would be looked on as being deposited for the purpose of preparation
for sale and intended for the food of man.
The responsible official of the company expressed regret that the meat had, contrary
to his previous instructions, and entirely without his knowledge, been conveyed to this
district before being properly examined, and promised to take such steps as would prevent
any further misunderstanding.
In concluding my remarks on the general inspection of foodstuffs, let me again call
attention to the necessity of better protection thereof from the dust and dirt of the street
and innumerable flies which gain access thereto through open windows of butchers, provision
dealers, fruiterers, etc. There is reason to believe that any compulsory steps in this direction
would be welcomed by a large percentage of the traders, but there seems to be a fear
of loss of trade by any individual attempt in this direction, in view of the existing practice
of touting outside open windows, although it is generally recognised in the two former
trades named, at least, that considerable loss now exists by the effects of drying winds and
the necessity of trimming goods disfigured by dust and dirt, due to the open exposure, and
one is convinced that any distinct lead either compulsorily or voluntary would soon become
popular.

The following figures show the total weight of foodstuffs destroyed, as set forth in detail in the orecedinc Tables, viz.:—

Tons.cwts.qrs.lbs.
From Slaughterhouses as per Table A —14213
From Shops, etc., as per Table B 110320
Total Tons 2525

As compared with the amount destroyed in the last previous year, there is a falling
off of over 54 per cent. under the former Table and nearly 50 per cent. under the latter.
This, however, may be accounted for by the fact that in the said previous year the entire
carcases of two bovine animals were destroyed owing to a generalised affection of tuberculosis,
whilst, happily, no generalised case was found in the year now under consideration ;
and also that under the latter Table in the previous year one surrender of 60 bags of green
peas, weighing over 2 tons, alone accounts for the difference under that head.
Cowsheds.—There are still 5 cowsheds on the register, to which 53 visits were paid;
only 4 of these, however, were found to be in actual use during the year. They have as
a whole been conducted fairly well, but in these, as in the slaughterhouses, there is the
greatest tendency to neglect the sanitary condition where the premises are least used, and
in one case, specially reported to you, complaint had to be made of the misuse of the shed,