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Denmark continues to send us beef, mutton, and pork in considerable
quantities, and has of late given better attention to its soundness than
formerly. From Russia there have been frequent shipments of pork of
satisfactory quality. Holland continues to be a large sender of veal, pork,
mutton and, to a smaller extent, beef, in connection with which a satisfactory
feature was the visit of a Commissioner from the Dutch Government to the
Central Markets, where the condition of the meat sent was shown and explained
to him by your Chief Inspector, which has already been attended with good
effect.*
On the 16th of October, for the first time, Servian sheep made their
appearance at the Central Market. These had been slaughtered in their own
country and sent by rail to Ostend, whence the rabbit boat to Tilbury and
train after had brought them to London.
They were to a great extent badly selected, weak and poor, to which defects
emphasis had been given by most indifferent dressing, in course of which a
small piece of liver had, in most cases, been left on the carcass between the
diaphragm and kidney.
Many of these livers were full of flukes, which in some cases were found
singly or in bunches on the surface of the chest wall, clearly showing the
reason for their condition. As a consequence a large proportion of the carcasses
were seized. In spite of this, they continued to come in varying numbers and
at irregular intervals for several weeks. A rumour then reached us that,
owing to the large number seized in the City, it was intended to avoid the
London market, and send them to provincial towns for sale.
The Port Sanitary Authority were at once communicated with, with a view
to their inspection at the point of debarkation, and some considerable number
were seized by their Officers. Notwithstanding these preventive measures,
diseased sheep from this source continued to arrive on the London market up
to January 16th.
It is understood that larger consignments will be sent next year. Should
this be attempted, it is advisable that greater judgment be exercised in
selection of the meat, both as to quality and freedom from disease, in which
case there seems to be no reason why a remunerative business should not be
established. It would be well perhaps to bring these facts to the notice of the
Servian Government.
In this connection, Dr. Williams, the Medical Officer of Health for the
Port of London, made the following observations in a Report presented to the
Court of Common Council on the 12th February last:—
"One of the routes by which meat comes into this country from the
"Continent is by way of Ostend. It is conveyed in powerful fast
"steamers to Tilbury, the passage being only of about 7 or 8 hours.
"These boats arrive about 10 p.m. each night, except Saturday, and
* See Report of Medical Officer of Health to the Sanitary Committee, 28th April, 1903.