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37
ALDGATE MARKET AND SLAUGHTER-HOUSES.
Although the outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in 1922 disorganised the
movement of live stock the numbers of animals killed at the Aldgate Slaughterhouses
during the year show an increase of 2,067.
The Departmental Committee on Meat Inspection in their Summary of
Conclusions recommend:—
"(5) Adequate notice should be given to the Local Authority of inten"tion
to slaughter so as to facilitate inspection of the carcase at the time of
"slaughter or shortly afterwards.
In connection with the above it may be useful to here quote Bye-law No. 19
of the Slaughter-house Regulations of the City of London, which provides that
"Every occupier of a slaughter-house who shall intend to slaughter any
"animal in such slaughter-house, or to cause or to permit any animal to be
"slaughtered therein, at any time other than between the hours of seven
"o'clock in the forenoon and three o'clock in the afternoon on a Sunday,
"or between the hours of six o'clock in the forenoon and nine o'clock in the
"afternoon on any other day, shall give to the Corporation at least three
"hours' notice in writing of such intention, which shall be delivered or sent
" to their Veterinary Inspector at his office."
The following table shows the result of this Bye-law during the year 1922 :—
Extra hours of duty performed by the Inspectors—
Weekdays. Sundays.
Before 6 a.m. After 9 p.m. Before 7 a.m. After 3 p.m.
Hours. Hours.
Nil. 1301 Nil. 10½
Number of animals killed during the above hours:—
Bulls 10
Calves 1,262
Cows 5
Heifers 2
Oxen 290
Sheep 412
Goats 1
Total 1,982
Those figures support the Recommendations of the Departmental Committee
by showing the number of animals killed after the inspectors' official hours.
The following table shows the number of animals killed in the
houses compared with the figures for 1921 :—
1922. 1921.
Bulls 145 161
Calves 23,826 17,613
Cows 51 19
Heifers 71 216
Oxen 6,250 5,804
Sheep 11,384 15,844
Various (Goats) 56 59
41,783 39,716
The principal disease which rendered carcases or portions of carcases unfit
for food was as in former years, tuberculosis. A total of 126 animals showed lesions
of the disease.
On analysis of the figures it is found that the percentages in the various animals
were as follows:—
Bulls 6 or 4.00 per cent. affected.
Calves 22 „ 0.09 ,, „ „
Cows 21 „ 41.00 „ „ „
Heifers 9 „ 12.80 „ ,,
Oxen 68 ,, 1.00 ,, „ „
F