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An order, known as the Horseflesh (Sales) Order made by the Food Controller nnder the Defence
of the Realm Regulations came into operation during the year, by which the slaughter of horses, whether
the flesh was used for human consumption or not, was prohibited except in premises the owner or
occupier of which held a licence from the Food Controller. A similar order—The Slaughterhouses
(Licensing) Order—was made by the Ministry of Food requiring the licensing by the Food Controller
of all persons using a slaughterhouse for cattle. In each instance the powers of the Food Controller were
in addition to, and not in substitution for those possessed by the Council in respect to the regulation
of the business of a knacker and of a slaughterer of cattle or horses.
One application was received for a licence, under section 53 of the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1903, of a depot for the reception of dead horses or horses for slaughter, but
the licence was not granted.
Application was also made for the Council's sanction to the establishment anew of the business
of a slaughterer of horses, the flesh of which would be used for human consumption, and an order
sanctioning the establishment of the business was in due course made.
Removal of house refuse.
The difficulties in securing an efficient collection of house refuse in the several metropolitan
boroughs, to which reference was made in last year's annual report were again experienced in 1918.
At the time of writing this report a weekly collection had been resumed in many of the boroughs, but
the Council was in communication with certain borough councils as to delay in removal or disposal
of refuse. A special case of delay in removing house refuse collected in the borough of Islington to
shoots situated outside the county was brought to the notice of the Local Government Board in order
to strengthen the hands of the borough council who had already called the Board's attention to the
subject. The Board conferred with the Borough Council, the Home Office and the Ministry of National
Service, and steps were taken to provide the labour necessary for handling the accumulation.
In connection with the general question of the possibility of further depletion of the staff engaged
on this work owing to the passing of the Military Service Act, 1918, with consequent increase in the delay
in collection, the Council expressed to the Local Government Board the hope that in the consideration
of claims upon the staffs of the borough councils for military service, the Board would take such steps
as might seem necessary to secure due recognition being given to the requirements of the public health
and sanitary services in London.
Depletion of sanitary staffs.
There were in May, 1919, only 10 male sanitary inspectors remaining on war service. At that
time there were 363 male sanitary inspectors actually employed in the several metropolitan boroughs,
five of whom were temporary officers ; in addition four men and a woman were employed as war
substitutes.
There were also 28 female sanitary inspectors, of whom two were temporarily employed, as well as
91 permanent and two temporary health visitors, while 16 women performed the dual functions of
sanitary inspector and health visitor.
National Insurance Acts, 1911-13—Treatment of tuberculosis.
Two boroughs which had not completed their tuberculosis dispensary schemes at the end of
1917 did so in 1918, and dispensary schemes comprising 33 dispensaries are now in operation in all
the metropolitan boroughs and the City of London. A summary of the work of these dispensaries during
1918 is given in table III. on page 22.
During the year the Hammersmith Borough Council appointed a Tuberculosis Care Committee,
representative of all the agencies in the borough connected with the welfare of the tuberculous population,
in accordance with the principles laid down in the model scheme passed by the London County Council
on 15th June, 1915, dealing with the appointment and duties of Tuberculosis Care Committees;
the Interim Committee appointed temporarily by the London County Council was accordingly dissolved
after having done much useful work, for which the Council has expressed to the members its appreciation.
The only other borough in which a Borough Care Committee is in operation is that of Chelsea. In the
remaining boroughs the Council still has the advantage of the co-operation and assistance of the Interim
Tuberculosis Care Committees set up throughout London to perform the functions ultimately to be
discharged by Care Committees to be appointed by the metropolitan borough councils. These Committees
play an important part in the work of ameliorating the lot of the tuberculous population,
particularly in such matters as improving the home conditions and provision of suitable employment, etc.
They also collect contributions made by parents towards the cost of the treatment of their children.
With regard to treatment in residential institutions, provision is made by the Council for the
treatment of uninsured persons and children, insured persons being the concern of the London Insurance
Committee. The Council authorised the use of maxima of 100 beds for adults and 300 beds for children
in voluntary institutions, and such beds as may be available at the institutions of the Metropolitan
Asylums Board, including a limited number of beds for advanced cases at St. George's Home, Milmanstreet,
Chelsea (Women), and at Downs Sanatorium (Men).
A comprehensive scheme, under which the Council would be responsible for the provision of
institutional treatment for both insured and uninsured persons, is now under consideration.