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VETERINARY INSPECTION IN HORNSEY
by
Mr. F. G. BUXTON, M.R.C.V.S., Veterinary Inspector.
During the past thirty years while I have been Veterinary Inspector
of this Borough the duties have undergone considerable changes.
My father, who was the first Veterinary Inspector appointed by the
Borough in 1906, retired in 1922. After his retirement I carried on the
duties and was formally appointed in 1925.
The appointment of a Veterinary Inspector is authorised under the
Diseases of Animals Act, 1894, which states (Section 35(i))—"Every
Local Authority shall appoint so many inspectors and other officers as the
local authority think necessary for the execution and enforcement of this
Act. . ."
His duties include visiting farms, stables and other places in the Borough
at or in which he has information or reason to believe that there are
diseased cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, dogs or other animals, and
make all necessary inspections and examinations. He shall inspect the
slaughtering and burial, or removal to the knackers, of diseased cattle,
horses and other animals, making post-mortem examinations when
necessary.
He carries out all the duties required of him in connection with the
prosecution of persons for offences under the above-mentioned Acts and
any other Acts under which powers are derived, attending before Justices
or Magistrates in the Petty Sessional or police courts, or any other Court,
when required, and giving evidence in support of summonses or other
proceedings relating to matters coming within the scope of his duties.
He gives all such notices as may be necessary, and makes all necessary
reports, returns and information to the Board of Agriculture, and reports
the results of his inspections, inquiries and action taken to the Medical
Officer of Health.
When I first became the Veterinary Inspector there were in the area a
number of dairy cows at Manor Farm, Hornsey Lane Farm, Park Farm
and later some in Claremont Road. The milk was sold locally. In addition
there were a few kept for the private use of their owners. These required
inspection and when necessary testing for tuberculosis; samples of milk
taken regularly for examination, and reactors slaughtered and post-mortem
examination carried out under the terms of the Tuberculosis Order 1925.
Reports were made to the Borough Council and returns to the Ministry
of Agriculture on the results of inspections and the action taken in connection
with animals suffering from the various notifiable diseases. At
the present day only one cow remains in the Borough; it is privately
owned and its milk is not sold. The other cow belonging to the same
owner died suddenly one night in October, 1950, and the clinical signs
upon inspection gave one to suspect anthrax, a notifiable disease. As
usual the Ministry took over and, eventually, reported the case as negative.
At times, under the Parasitic Mange Order 1911, outbreaks of parasitic
mange were reported in horses owned by the various private concerns
such as coal companies, job masters as well as private individuals. These
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