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The meeting was largely attended, and the Professor fully explained the
nature of the disease and the best means of discovering it in the carcass.
In the circumstances this is not a case, in my opinion, where legal
proceedings would have been warrantable, but it is an apt illustration how
important it is that breeders, dealers, and all persons engaged in the meat
trade, should acquire a fuller knowledge of the indications of tuberculosis in
meat in general, and pork in particular, failing which it is not too much to
say that it will be difficult to effectively carry out the recommendation of the
Royal Commission on the subject, especially in rural districts where expert
opinion cannot usually be readily commanded.
While on this subject it may be permissible to suggest that some of the
money available throughout the country for the promotion and popularisation
of technical education might be profitably applied for the purpose of the more
general extension of knowledge of the prevailing characteristics, both in health
and disease, of material intended for human food.
UNSOUND FROZEN RABBITS.
On the 31st July, information was received from the Medical Officer of
Health for the Port of London, that a portion of a consignment of frozen
rabbits, ex s.s. "Duke of Sutherland," were then on their way in barges to
some Cold Air Stores in the City.
Your Inspectors detained the rabbits on their arrival at the wharf, and
6,328 crates of the 7,731 landed were condemned as unfit for food.
Another lot of 60 crates, part of the same shipment delivered by the Midland
Railway, were also inspected ; from these your Officers seized 795 rabbits out
of 1,450.
They were shipped from Australia, and had probably deteriorated on the
voyage in consequence of faulty stowage or failure of refrigerating apparatus.
Your Officers were afforded every facility by the wharfingers for examining
the goods.
On the 9th instant, another parcel of 140 crates of imported frozen rabbits
were removed from a poultry dealer's shop in the Central Markets, the contents
being mouldy and unfit for food.
Upon enquiry they were found to be part of a consignment of about 1,500
crates purchased from a firm in Tooley Street, the remainder being stored at
riverside Cold Air Stores in Southwark.
These facts were reported to the Sanitary Authority of that District, by
whom they were seized and condemned.