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These inspections were completed in February, May, August and October, and were the
seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth inspections made by Mr. Shaw.
In all cases in which Mr. Shaw certified that a cow was suffering from tubercular disease the
owner was prohibited from using the milk for human consumption, and in the case of cows suspected
to be so suffering the cow-keeper was cautioned against allowing the milk to be used.
All such cows were kept under observation until removed for slaughter. Cows suffering from
chronic disease of the udder were kept under periodical inspection. In several instances cows
suffering from tubercular disease, and in which the udder was not apparently affected, were sent
to the knackers. Mr. Shaw attributes the reduction in the number of cows found to be suffering
from disease of the udder to the exercise of greater care by the keepers in the selection of cows for
the London cowsheds, and to the fact that the milkers take greater care to keep the udders sound.
He also says that owing to the higher price of beef during the year the keepers have been more
willing to send the cows for slaughter, and hence few cows affected with chronic mastitis remained
in the sheds, while many of the fat cows giving milk of a poor quality were sold for slaughter.
The Council included in their General Powers Bill of 1902 provisions which would have
enabled the Council to take samples of milk in London, to examine the cows on the farms from
which milk found to contain tubercle bacilli was received, and to exclude from London the milk of
cows suffering from tubercular disease of the udder. Opposition was offered to these provisions,
and the clauses were struck out.
It will be recollected that at the Congress on Tuberculosis held in London in 1901, Dr. Koch
stated that he estimated that the extent of infection by the milk and flesh of tubercular cattle,
and the butter made of their milk, was hardly greater than that of hereditary transmission, and,
therefore, he did not deem it advisable to take any measures against it. In consequence, a Roval
Commission was appointed to inquire and report whether tuberculosis in animals and man is one
and the same disease ; whether animals and man can be reciprocally infected with it ; under
what conditions, if at all, the transmission of the disease from animals to man takes place ; and
what are the circumstances favourable or unfavourable to such transmission.
This Royal Commission has not yet reported, but results obtained since by several investigators
have not supported Dr. Koch's thesis.
Offensive Businesses.
The reports of medical officers of health generally show that premises have been inspected
on which offensive businesses are carried on. With respect to slaughterhouses in Paddington, of
which there are 9, there were 743 inspections. The 12 slaughterhouses in Kensington were
regularly inspected. In Hammersmith the slaughterhouses were inspected every fortnight.
In Marylebone the number of inspections of slaughterhouses was 71. In Hampstead
the 5 slaughterhouses were periodically inspected. The inspectors of food in St. Pancras made
462 inspections of the 21 slaughterhouses. The meat inspector made 2,505 visits to the 42
slaughterhouses in Islington. The slaughterhouses in Stoke Newington were duly inspected.
In Hackney the inspector made 158 visits to the slaughterhouses, of which there are 29. The
6 slaughterhouses in Finsbury were regularly inspected. In the City are 9 slaughterhouses, which
the medical officer of health states "cannot be regarded as desirable features in the centre of a
great city." In Finsbury the 14 slaughterhouses were inspected. In Bethnal-green 24
visits were made to the 7 slaughterhouses. In Stepney there are 13 slaughterhouses, of which
there were a number of inspections. In Poplar there are 20 slaughterhouses which were
periodically inspected. In Southwark 71 inspections were made of 7 slaughterhouses. In Bermondsey
there were 5 slaughterhouses ; these required constant visiting to ensure compliance
with the by-laws and prevent nuisance to the neighbours. In Lambeth the 33 slaughterhouses
were kept under constant supervision ; legal proceedings were instituted in one instance. In
Battersea the 8 slaughterhouses were frequently inspected. In Wandsworth the 25 slaughterhouses
were frequently inspected. In Camberwell there were 220 inspections of slaughterhouses.
In Deptford there were 65 inspections of 6 slaughterhouses. In Greenwich there were 20 inspections
of 7 slaughterhouses. In Lewisham there were 25 slaughterhouses visited. In Woolwich
the 13 slaughterhouses were all inspected at least four times.

Inquiry made under the instructions of the Public Health Committee in the early part
of the year, showed that of the 381 private slaughterhouses which were licensed in 1901, 220
were situated within 10 feet of a dwelling-house, 73 within 20 feet, 40 within 30 feet, 26 within
40 feet, 3 within 50 feet, 15 within 100 feet, and 4 within 200 feet of a dwelling, and further it
was shown that 35 slaughterhouses had no entrance except through the shop. The Council has
since adopted a resolution that no new slaughterhouse shall come into existence which is within
100 feet of a dwelling.