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70
good, and the time, mostly after normal hours, and effort given
chiefly by my Deputy, has, I am sure, not been wasted- 41 such
talks have been given during the year to some 1,700 people.
Sampling of food and drink has been carried out as a routine
with a view to detecting adulterations and irregularities. The
.Ministry of Food have, through their Food Standards Orders, and
Labelling of Food Orders, done much to improve the composition
of foods. These Orders are welcomed by manufacturers and
packers of repute and they are of great value to those who have to
"watch over" the public's food supply. Irregularities are from
time to time observed which are r.ot of serious import, and these
are readilv put right by the packers. Wilful adulteration or acts
of carelessness which may have serious consequences, have to be
dealt with in a more summary manner. I would here like to thank
our Public Analyst, Mr. Moir, for the help he gives me in this
complicated side ot food control.
The Municipal Slaughterhouse continues to be used to capacity
by the Ministry of Food, and during the year, 23,000 animals
were slaughtered and their carcases and offals were inspected by
the Meat Inspectors. Amongst the diseased conditions met with,
tuberculosis is still very prevalent. In the future, with the progress
of the tubercle free herd scheme of the Ministry of Agriculture
and Fisheries, one can hope for a reduction in the heavy losses
from this disease. The "liver fluke" has been responsible for the
condemnation of very many livers and it is pleasing to note that
the same Ministry are taking steps to see that land heavily infested
with the snail in which part of the life cycle of this parasite is
spent, is disinfested. A few cases have been observed of
"measly" beef—a condition which, if such meat was consumed
without sufficient cooking, could give rise to the tapeworm of
man. This infection of the beef animals has become much more
prevalent in this country during and since the war.
The attack on rodents continues and in this connection it is
interesting to note that in 1947, when the sewers of the Borough
were lirst baited, "takes" of bait, signifying the presence of rats,
were observed in 1,323 manholes, and since that time baiting and
poisoning has gone an annually with a result that in 1951 the
manholes showing the presence of rats had been reduced to 307.
The statistical tables and comments in the body of the report
give some indication of the amount and variety of work which has
been done in a loyal and satisfactory manner bv those under my
control.
GEO. GRIEV.E,
Chief Sanitary Inspector.