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86
Annual Report of the London County Council, 1910.
Inspection of food.
Dr. Collingridge reports that the inspectors of the City Corporation seized 1,675 tons 2 cwt.
1 qr. of diseased and unsound meat, poultry, offal and fish during the year. Over 22 tons 4 cwts. of
meat, including offal, was tuberculous. At Billingsgate Market 1,288 tons of fish was condemned by
the inspectors of the Fishmongers' Company. As the result of inspection at the City wharves 110
loads of unsound food were removed by the City Corporation. In Finsbury over 83 tons of diseased
meat and 56 tons of unsound food were seized. Dr. Thomas states that eight sides of tuberculous beef
were seized in Finsbury, all bearing the official label of the Belgian administration, as having been satisfactorily
examined at Antwerp. "They were said to be a part of a much larger consignment of old Danish
cattle which, while still alive, had been tested with tuberculin in German ports and had been refused
admission to Germany. They therefore were consigned via Antwerp and Harwich to various English
districts. A percentage examination—10 per cent.—was made at Harwich, and some of the tuberculous
carcases found and seized. The rest escaped detection and came into the Central Meat Market, Finsbury
and other districts, where they were dealt with." Both Dr. Collingridge and Dr. Thomas refer
in their reports to the delivery in London of a large quantity of quarters of Queensland beef presenting
nodular masses containing a parasitic worm identified as Onchocerca gibsoni. It was decided to require
the excision and destruction of the flanks and briskets and the removal from the hind quarters of any parts
which were affected. The Local Government Board issued in January of 1911 reports on this parasite by
Dr. MacFadden and Dr. Robert Leiper. In Islington 4 tons 1 cwt. 1 qr. of unsound food were destroyed, of
which 1 ton 18 cwt. qrs. was diseased or unsound meat removed chiefly from the slaughterhouses.
In Stepney 2 tons 9 cwt. of meat from the slaughterhouses, and 19 tons 10 cwt. from shops and stalls
were seized or surrendered, and 379 tons 9 cwt. of unsound food from the wharves were destroyed.
In Southwark nearly 26 tons of food were surrendered to the inspectors and 4 cwt. seized by them,
while over 166 tons was surrendered on the wharves. In Bermondsey 26½ tons of unsound food were
surrendered, and a considerable quantity of foodstuff was dealt with on the wharves. In Poplar also a
large quantity of foodstuff from the wharves was dealt with. In Westminster much foodstuff was
surrendered and three seizures made. Various quantities of food were surrendered or seized in Paddington,
Hampstead, St. Pancras, St. Marylebone, Stoke Newington, Hackney, Holborn, Shoreditch,
Bethnal Green, Lambeth, Battersea, Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham, Wandsworth and Woolwich.
The reports relating to the following districts show that proceedings before the magistrates in
connection with unsound food were instituted in the number of instances stated:—
No. of No. of No. of
proceedings. proceedings, proceedings.
London, City of 2 Kensington 1 Shoreditch 3
Fulham 3 Westminster 3 Bermondsey 1
Finsbury 3 St. Pancras 1 Lambeth 1
otepney 11 St. Marylebone 10 Battersea 2
Southwark 2 Holborn 2 Woolwich 1
Convictions were obtained in all except one case, in Westminster, in which the summons was
withdrawn.
Dr. Collingridge calls attention to the wording of section 47 of the Public Health (London) Act,
which in respect of any article which has been seized or is liable to be seized under this section
provides a penalty for "the person to whom the same belongs, or did belong at the time of sale
or exposure for sale or deposit for the purpose of sale, or of preparation for sale, or in
whose possession or on whose premises the same, shall be found." Dr. Collingridge states
that "In many cases the guilty party is rendered completely immune from the consequences
of their evil deeds, the owner escaping because he had no knowledge, and the butcher because he is
not the owner." He cites two cases in which there was failure to secure a conviction for this cause,
and states that a clause for meeting the difficulty has been inserted in the City of London (General
Powers) Bill.
Disinfection.
The principal change in the arrangements for disinfection in London effected during the year
is the provision by the Council of the City of Westminster of a new disinfecting station, replacing
stations which had been provided by the authorities which had existed before the passing of the
London Government Act. Dr. Allan reports that the' provision now made includes accommodation
for the reception and cleansing of verminous persons. The annual report of Dr. Sandilands relating
to Kensington shows that the borough council undertook in a certain number of instances the washing
of infected articles of clothing for the convenience of householders, a charge being made for this
service. In Paddington the disinfection is still done by a contractor.
Shelters.
Dr. Alexander reports that, in Poplar, plans for the utilisation of the upper workshops at the
destructor depot, for the purpose of an infectious disease shelter and plans for the disinfesting house
and yard, were approved by the Public Health and Housing Committee.