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14
The paper read by Mr. Adamson is full 'of interest, and
should be studied by all consumers of gas as a good resume
of the whole question.
The Adulteration of Food Act.—By all appearances the
public stand a chance of being equally disappointed in the
effectual carrying out of this Act, as they have been of
that of the Water Supply Act. A few more such
magisterial decisions as those recently made public will
practically annul this measure of anticipated protection.
It appears to be necessary, in order to ensure a conviction,
that the prosecution should, in every case, prove a
guilty knowledge on the part of the sellers of adulterated
articles of food, and it is not difficult, therefore, to foresee
what will be the fate of this much-lauded Act without
further legislation on the subject. A clearer definition of
what is to be considered adulteration appears to be the
great desideratum.
Metropolitan Slaughter Houses.—Some attempts having
been recently made to prevent the abolition of private
slaughter houses by a repeal of the 55th section of the
7th and 8th Victoria, c. 85, your Medical Officers of Health
deem it right to state that they are unanimously of opinion
that the establishment of public abattoirs, is, for many
reasons, greatly preferable to the continuation of a system
of slaughtering cattle under which so many known and
acknowledged abuses are perpetrated. Those who have ever
seen the mode of conducting a well-regulated abattoir on
the continent, will be quite prepared to endorse the views
of Dr.Littlejohn,the chief sanitary officer of Edinburgh, who
states* "No private slaughter houses are now permitted
in Edinburgh; but there is one public abattoir containing
43 booths and one piggery. To this building additions will
be made immediately, providing 20 additional booths, the
population of Edinburgh having regularly increased since
the formation of the abattoir in 1851." Dr. Littlejohn
*A letter addressed to the Medical Officer of Health of the Whitechapel
District, by Dr. Littlejohn.