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58
With regard to each of the articles named a special report was submitted to the
Public Health Committee, who, after taking all the facts into consideration gave
instructions as to whether or not proceedings should be instituted against the vendor.
In neither of the cases reported during the year did the Committee regard the
circumstances to be such as to justify them in simply issuing a warning.
Full particulars of the prosecutions are given below.
Public Health (London) Act, 1891, Section 47.
Name of Result.
Inspector. Fine. Costs.
19, Upper Charlton Exposing for sale a quantity G. Smith 20/- 4/Street
of unsound tomatoes
80, Great Titchfield Exposing for sale a quantity G. Smith £5 23/Street
of unsound brawn
Inspections at Central Meat Market.—In the report for 1911, reference was
made to the fact that during that year, on account of certain seizures which had been
made within the Borough of tuberculous pork which had been purchased by a
local vendor at the Central Meat Market, a communication was sent to the
Corporation of the City of London, suggesting that in the interests of the inhabitants
of the Borough, if not of London generally, a more complete system of meat
inspection should be arranged for.
The reply which the Committee received from the Corporation was not considered
satisfactory and it was determined to carry the matter further and get into
communication with other borough councils and obtain their views on the question.
At the end of 1911 all the councils had not replied and nothing definite had been
done.
During 1912 the matter was before the Committee on several occasions, and
eventually it was taken up by the Metropolitan Boroughs Standing Joint Committee
who arranged for a meeting between one of their sub-committees and representatives
of the City Corporation.
This as held and was attended by Mr. Councillor Melluish, a member of the
Public Health Committee, and the Medical Officer of Health. A number of points
were raised and considered at this meeting, and a number of suggestions made.
The City Corporation again took the matter into consideration, and towards the
end of the year a letter was sent to the Metropolitan Standing Joint Committee, a
copy of which was forwarded to the Public Health Committee.
In this, it was pointed out that the examination in detail of the enormous quantity
of meat passing through the market, amounting in 1911 to upwards of 435,000
tons, would be impracticable, even with an increased staft of inspectors, inasmuch
as the delay it would entail would practically stagnate the business of the market,
besides which, disease which cannot be seen when meat is inspected in carcase, may
become apparent in cutting up.