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84
During the year much time was given to the extermination of rats by
using poisons and Virus, and for about five months the Middlesex County
Council gave permission to pay 2d. each for all rats brought to the Town Hall
by the public. I anticipated a very large number, knowing full well that
rats were numerous in the district, but there were only 481 brought in, for
which we paid £4 0s. 2d., this amount being refunded by the Middlesex County
Council. If the rat population is to be exterminated, some regular and
systematic method must be adopted, for if only a few are left it is not long
before the place becomes again infested.
The Rats and Mice Destruction Act, 1919, will come into force on January
1st, 1920, making owners and occupiers of land or buildings responsible for
preventing lands or buildings becoming infested with rats or mice.
SLAUGHTER-HOUSES AND UNSOUND FOODS.
One transfer of licence took place in the occupation of a slaughter-house.
The number of slaughter-houses on the register remains the same, viz., 6—
5 licensed under the Public Health Acts (Amendment) Act, 1890, and renewed
yearly, and one registered that has been in existence a great number of years,
and this will no doubt in a few years be non-existent.
The advantages of slaughter-houses being licensed annually is obvious,
especially so should the Council in the near future provide a public abbatoir.
The tendency of the butchers is to facilitate the work of the Inspector,
and should any carcase be doubtful, it is put on one side for inspection. Fourteen
cases occurred like this during the year. The periodical lime-washing
was carried out.
The number of animals inspected during or shortly after slaughter was:—
Oxen, 145; cows, 14; heifers, 19; calves, 11; sheep and lambs, 449; pigs, 937.
Total, 1,576.
The following diseased meat and offal were surrendered during inspection :—
1 cow and organs, 1 ox and organs, 1 cow and organs, 1 cow and organs, 1 cow
and organs, 1 ox and organs, 2 cows; total, 8 carcases. One pig's head, 1
ditto, 1 ditto, 1 ditto; total, 4. Offal—381b., 601b., 161b., 201b., 141b.
Total, 1481b. One frozen sheep; also one hind-quarter frozen beef.
During the year the following foods were examined, surrendered and
destroyed:—
January 4th, 9 wild rabbits.
February 3rd, 61b. bacon; 25th, 561b. herrings.
March 10th, 2 tins corned beef; 17th, 5cwt. 2qr. 21.1b. dates; 18th,
2cwt. herrings; 24th, 1 case herrings.
April 4th, 1 box dates; 8th. lewt. 1qr. herrings; 8th, 5 boxes dates;
23rd, 3 boxes dates; 24th, 1 case haddocks.