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

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London County Council 1895

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]

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49
ADMINISTRATION.
Dairies, Cowsheds, and Milkshops.
During 1895 the Council's inspectors made 16,628 inspections of dairies and milkshops. In 22
instances legal proceedings under the Dairies, Cowsheds and Milkshops Order were instituted, and in
these, penalties amounting in the aggregate to £41 19s. were imposed. 178 cases of infectious
disease occurring at milkshop premises were dealt with during the year; these included 105 cases of
scarlet fever, 45 cases of diphtheria and membranous croup, 19 cases of enteric fever, 5 cases of
small-pox, and 4 cases of erysipelas. In all cases the Council's inspectors visited the premises with a
view to ensure the adoption of measures to prevent contamination of the milk.
The number of applications for renewal of existing licences to cowsheds dealt with during the
year, was 427, of these 416 were granted.
Offensive Trades.
During 1895 the Council's inspectors made 4,631 inspections of premises upon which offensive
trades (including that of a "slaughterer of cattle") were carried on. In 11 instances legal proceedings
were instituted, and in 10 of these, penalties amounting in the aggregate to £86 were inflicted.
The number of applications during the year for renewal of existing licences to slaughterhouse
premises was 497, of which 485 were granted. In the case of knackers' yards, six licences were
renewed; seven licences were granted in 1894, but no application in respect of one of these was made
in 1895.
During the year four offensive businesses which had been discontinued for a period of nine
months or upwards were struck off the Council's register. These businesses included those of a soapboiler,
tallow-melter, fat-melter and blood-boiler.
With respect to the last-named business, which was the only one of its kind remaining on the
Council's register, it may be noted that a magistrate's order, made under sec. 19 (5) of the Public
Health (London) Act, 1891, was obtained in January, 1895, depriving the occupier of the right to
carry on his business, and in December, 1895, I was instructed to cancel the entry in the Council's
register regarding these premises.

The number of applications tor the licence of slaughterhouses and the number of slaughterhouses licensed is diminishing each year, as will be seen from the following table1—

Year.No. of applications received.No. of licences granted.
1891656651
1892547537
1893542529
1894518506
1895497485

There is also evidence that the number of animals killed in private slaughterhouses in London
is diminishing. In my report for the year 1892 I published a tabular statement showing, as far as
could be ascertained, the average number of animals killed in each week of the winter and summer
months, the return being based upon information which the occupiers of licensed slaughterhouses were
good enough to supply, I am now able to submit a similar statement relating to the year 1895. The
figures for 1892 are given for the purpose of comparison, and I may mention that these have been
revised and are more reliable than those previously published.

These figures must, of course, not be regarded as more than approximations to the numbers actually killed, but to this extent I believe they are trustworthy.

Animals.Average number killed weekly.
1892.1895.
Winter.Summer.Winter.Summer.
Beasts1,2831,025967837
Sheep and lambs10,33213,3667,88011,119
Calves9729130215
Pigs1,6981,014978552

Nuisances.
Trade Nuisances.
Nuisances due to trade operations are referred to in several annual reports of medical officers
of health ; the reports relating to the following districts give details as to such nuisances.
Kensington.—The medical officer of health writes that the business of a marine store dealer often
"gives rise to offensive smells, and as it has been held by the Appeal Court to be ejusdem generis with
the businesses scheduled in the [Public Health (London)] Act, it is to be desired that the County
Council should add it to the list, as many years ago your vestry, at my instance, requested the late
Metropolitan Board of Works to do, but without success."
*These figures include applications dealt with in the intervals between the annual licensing meetings in October of each year.
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