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30
London, by the City of London Sewers Act, 1848, but in the event of this being the
case the Cattle Markets Committee, who are the authority under the Diseases of
Animals Act for the City, have granted a general authorisation for your Medical
Officer of Health and Meat Inspectors to enter any place within the area of the
City which may be declared an infected place. There are seven slaughter-houses
in the City of London which are situated at Aldgate, and officers of this Department
are on continuous duty during the time slaughtering is in progress. The
amount of slaughtering carried out therein is considerable and animals arrive there
from all parts of the country.
MEAT INSPECTION.
On page 32 is a report by Mr. T. Dunlop Young, O.B.E., M.R.C.V.S.,
the veterinary surgeon at the Meat Markets.
In that report is contained details of routine inspections shewing the amount of
meat which comes under observation and the amount which has been condemned.
The amount of meat passing through the Markets is higher this year than in any
previously reported and it is also of interest to note that the condemnations record
a decrease of 800 tons. This is probably due to the fact that the war accumulations
have now been worked off and supplies are of the normal pre-war character.
I would direct your attention to the new incisions which it is proposed to
substitute for the previous grevious mutilation of the stifle joint which has always
been an objectionable feature of Australian hind quarters.
In connection with Australian beef I attach herewith a report, dated January
23rd, 1923, which I prepared on the instructions of the Sanitary Committee and
which has been forwarded to the High Commissioner for the Commonwealth of
Australia. The subject requires no further elaboration.
"In accordance with your instructions I beg to submit herewith the following brief report on the
subject of Australian meat.
The High Commissioner for Australia recently forwarded to the Lord Mayor a request that I
should be instructed to furnish him with a memorandum dealing in general terms with the subject of
Australian meat, particularly as regards its infection with Onchocerca Gibsoni. This letter was
referred to the Sanitary Committee and my instructions followed as a consequence.
Australian meat is received in this country invariably in the frozen state. The actual freezing
of the meat results in its physical characteristics being changed to the detriment of the product from
the point of view of sale since the frozen carcase cannot be placed on the market possessing the same
attractive appearance as a chilled carcase. In transportation a certain amount of rubbing is unavoidable
since frozen carcases are close packed. This fact also reduces the attractiveness of the quarter.
In addition, careless thawing depreciates the value of frozen carcases when exposed for sale in the retail
shops. This circumstance, however, is a deficiency common to any frozen carcase and much can be
done to minimise it by instructing retailers in the most efficient method of defrosting before cutting up.
It is obvious therefore that frozen meat even of equal quality must be at a disadvantage when compared
with the chilled, but when there is super-added certain mutilations of the carcase, the market
handicap of frozen beef is further increased.
This is the present position of Australian carcase meat for it is so frequently affected with the
disease known as onchocerciasis that definite regulations have had to be agreed upon and adopted
to enable this meat to be put on the market in this country. The mutilations follow as a consequence
of these regulations which inter alia require the removal of the brisket from the fore-quarter and
certain well-defined incisions in the region of the stifle joint.
As regards these latter incisions I have had an opportunity recently of witnessing the modified
incision which it was agreed should be attempted, and I can say that this incision is much less objectionable
than the previous one, and, provided adequate care is taken at the place of slaughter, some improvement
at any rate will result in the appearance of the hind quarters by its adoption. Permission
to continue this incision—if it is ultimately adopted—will depend upon strict observance at the
place of slaughter of the necessity to remove those tissues which are likely to be affected with onchocerciasis
in this area.
Notwithstanding this improvement, incisions will still be necessary, and further, no matter what
degree of care is exercised, there will be no positive certainty that all nodules will be removed by the
methods adopted. This risk, together with the continuance of mutilations, will continue to depreciate
Australian beef.
The position, therefore, presents two aspects—(a) the objectionable characteristics which are the
result of importing meat in the frozen state and which are dependent upon the physical changes consequent
upon freezing, the effects of transportation and the carelessness which is displayed by retailers
in regard to the thawing process, and (b) the condition which is peculiar to Australian carcases, viz.,
onchocerciasis.
In connection with this latter condition it is argued that no known ill-effects have resulted from
the consumption of meat containing nodules, and that therefore sentiment rather than danger
prompts the present so called protective measures. It may be true to assert that human beings are
not harmfully affected by the consumption of such meat, but surely an animal severely affected with