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32
REPORT OF THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH FOR 1952
These samples were sent to the Public Health Laboratory,
Camberwell, and were submitted to the following examinations:—
221 by the Methylene Blue Test
204 by the Phosphatase Test
24 by the turbidity test
Total 449
Four of these samples failed to comply with the prescribed tests.
In addition, 16 samples of milk were examined for the presence
of brucella abortus and tubercle bacilli. In each case negative
results were obtained.
Meat
There are 217 butchers' shops in the Borough. The majority
are registered under Section 14(l)(b) of the Food and Drugs Act,
1938, for the preparation or manufacture of sausages or potted,
preserved, pickled or pressed foods. There were 3,231 visits made to
these shops during the year.
Slaughter of Animals
There are three private slaughter-houses in the Borough and they
were visited on 47 occasions during the year.
Six carcases of pigs were inspected after slaughter.
Slaughter of Animals Act, 1933-51
Section 3 of this Act provides that no animal shall be slaughtered
or stunned in a slaughterhouse or knacker's yard by any person
who is not the holder of a licence granted by a local authority and
in force under this section.
During the year one application from a person desirous of acting
as a slaughterman was submitted to the Council and granted.
War Time Piggeries
There are now seven war time piggeries in this Borough and they
were inspected on 14 occasions.
Unsound Food
One hundred and forty-six varieties of foodstuff suspected to be
unsound were examined at the request of the owners and afterwards
either destroyed or released for animal feeding. The owners were
granted a certificate to this effect.