London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
City of London 1922
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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32
country and with the approval of the Sanitary Committee, Mr. Young accepted
temporary service for this particular work and was detailed to an area in Yorkshire.
He was absent for this purpose for a period of one month.
The subject of the handling of meat has been before the Sanitary Committee
on many occasions during the last few months and in view of the recommendations
of the Departmental Committee on Meat Inspection the Committee decided to
approach the Ministry of Health by means of a deputation to emphasise the urgency
of regulations being devised to control the methods of transportation and handling
of meat between the markets and the shops of the retail dealers. The Ministry
arranged for a meeting and the Chairman, Mr. D. Haydon, accompanied by Mr.
W. Leuw, Mr. W. H. Savery, J.P., the late Mr. B. T. Swinstead and Mr. M. J.
Lindsey, had the honour of an interview with Lord Onslow, Parliamentary
Secretary, Ministry of Health. The Chairman of the Committee set out the circumstances
and at the close of the conference the deputation were informed that
the Minister would give serious consideration to the matter and that draft proposals
with the above objects in view were in course of preparation.
The following report has been prepared by Mr. Dunlop Young, Veterinary
Sureeon of the Corporation.
The Board of Trade Returns for 1922 show the following importations of meat:-
| Origin. | Beef. Cwts. | Mutton. Cwts. | Pork. Cwts. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | 7,608,968 | 1,430,277 | 101,984 |
| Australia | 1,166,590 | 984,110 | — |
| Denmark | 78,663 | — | — |
| Netherlands | — | 138,662 | 461,332 |
| New Zealand | 580,335 | 3,016,063 | — |
| Other Countries | 159,676 | 163,126 | 25,507 |
| United States | 65,756 | — | 80,341 |
| Uruguay | 1,146,017 | 116,525 | — |
| Total for 1922 | 10,806,005 | 5,848,763 | 669,164 |
| Total for 1921 | 11,630,176 | 6,829,906 | 650,640 |
| Decrease | 824,171 | 981,143 | - |
| Increase | — | — | 18,524 |
Of the beef 55 per cent. was chilled, 44 per cent. frozen and 1 per cent. fresh.
Of the mutton 52 per cent. arrived from New Zealand, 24 per cent. from Argentina,
16 per cent. from Australia and the balance of 8 per cent. from "Other
Countries" including Uruguay.
The pork figures show a "Record" due chiefly to a great increase in the Dutch
trade.
The following table* shows that nearly half of the total amount of meat imported passed through the City Markets at Smithfield:—
| Origin. | 1922. | 1921. | Difference. | Ratio. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tons. | Tons. | Tons. | per cent. | |
| Britain and Ireland | 87,820 | 80,130 | + 7,670 | 9.6 |
| Australasia | 128,007 | 130,586 | — 2,579 | 1.9 |
| Canada and U.S.A. killed | 8,274 | 9,470 | — 1,196 | 12.6 |
| English killed | 7,980 | 8,783 | - 803 | 9.1 |
| South America | 186,189 | 165,212 | + 20,977 | 12.6 |
| Holland and other countries | 44,804 | 28,232 | + 16,572 | 58.7 |
| Totals | 463,074 | 422,433 | + 40,641 | 9.6 |
Those figures, viz.:—463,074 tons constitute a "Record" and show that
nearly 9,000 tons of food passed through the Central Markets every week, or an
average of nearly 1,800 tons per day; quantities unapproached by any other markets
in the world.
When we add to the above the amount of food supervised in the City Cold
Stores, Leadenhall Market, Aldgate Market and the City Shops, it will be observed
what a field there exists in the City for gaining experience in meat and food inspection.
The work necessary to supervise the above quantities of meat has taxed the
efforts of the staff to the utmost to cope with it. It is regrettable to observe that
* Kindly supplied by the Market Superintendent.