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 1929
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London, City of ]
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46
Attention is now being given in Smithfield to the percentage of poultry affected with
tuberculosis. It would be interesting to know to what extent, if any, avian tubercle bacilli
are the cause of reactions in the testing of bovines.
QUICK FREEZING OF MEATS.
Improvements in the methods of freezing are constantly being developed. Lately, new
systems, including the "Kolbe," "Zarotschenzeff" and "Birdseye," have come under
observation. A small equipment of the "Z" system is shortly to be erected in the vicinity
of the market to demonstrate its reputed advantages. The "Ottesen" process was tried
some years ago at the market; this consisted of immersing the food to be frozen in a fluid
of a very low temperature. The methods mentioned above are at base a vaporised or fog
system, whereby the food is submitted directly or indirectly to the action of the "brine"
at a temperature of—15 degrees. Experiments indicate that the more rapid the freezing
of meat, especially beef, the better is the quality when prepared for consumption. A special
new feature is that the food can be cooked directly from the frozen condition, and apparently
is much more tender and palatable than when cooked after thawing out. Associated with
rapid freezing, the packing of retail "cuts" of meat, etc., in special paper, and sealing in
by a new and original method, are being tried. Small experimental consignments have
been shown on the market, and from the hygienic and the economical points of view, are
suggestive of a possible progress in the transport and handling of food. These methods
are being kept under observation, and will be reported on when experiment has proceeded
sufficiently to enable definite opinions to be formed.
AMOUNTS OF HOME-KILLED MEAT SEIZED AT SMITHFIELD ON ACCOUNT OF DISEASE, AND THE NATURE OF THE DISEASE.
| CAUSE OF SEIZURE. | Carcases of Beef. | Quarters of Beef. | Carcases of Mutton. | Quarters of Mutton. | Carcases of Pork. | Quarters of Pork. | Carcases of Veal. | Quarters of Veal. | Heads. | Tongues. | Lungs. | Livers. | Mesenteries. | Plucks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abscess | — | — | 9 | — | 43 | 4 | l | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Coenurus Cerebralis | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — |
| Distomatosis | — | — | 47 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Emaciation and Hydraemia | 7 | 3 | 73 | — | 111 | — | 13 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Haemorrhages | — | — | 1 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Injury | — | 3 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Jaundice | 1 | — | — | — | 18 | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Joint I11 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Killed in Extremis | — | — | 5 | — | 279 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Melanosis | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Myositis | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Nephritis | — | — | 1 | — | 6 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Osteo Porosis | — | — | — | — | 2 | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pleurisy and Peritonitis | — | — | 5 | — | 112 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pleurisy and Pneumonia | — | — | 11 | — | 74 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Parasitic Mange | — | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pseudo Leukaemia | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pyaemia | — | — | 1 | — | 2 | — | — | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Rachitis | — | — | 12 | — | 27 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Tuberculosis (Bov.) | 39 | 52 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 | 33 | 35 | 44 | 5 | — | — |
| Tuberculosis (Porc.) | — | — | — | — | 594 | 14 | — | — | 5,044 | — | 12 | 3 | 20 | 1,936 |
| Totals, 1929 | 47 | 58 | 167 | — | 1,273 | 20 | 44 | 3 | 5,080 | 35 | 56 | 8 | 20 | 1,936 |
| Totals, 1928 | 27 | 120 | 157 | 4 | 1,016 | 11 | 30 | 4 | 5,077 | 29 | 10 | 7 | 55 | 2,090 |
CASEOUS LYMPHADENITIS.
As this disease has caused a very considerable amount of extra work to the inspectors
during 1928 and 1929, it may not be out of place to give a very brief sketch of how it has
come into such prominence. The disease came under the notice of your Veterinary Officer
in carcases of South American sheep slaughtered in the Deptford Markets nearly 30 years
ago. As the importation of live animals from South America ceased, the extent to which
sheep were affected could not be investigated. On taking up duties at Smithfield in 1910,
he found that from time to time, when carcases were cut up, lesions of the disease were
observed, and occasionally a leg or shoulder of mutton was returned from a buyer or a public
institution with the statement that the meat was affected with "Tuberculosis." While
in South America, in 1913, considerable attention was given by him to the incidence of the
disease, but owing to the outbreak of the War in 1914, delay in investigation again occurred.