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Tuberculous cow, if such is not forthwith slaughtered. It is to
be hoped that, subject to all prudent means being taken to prevent
fraud, the provision of compensation for the slaughter
of Tuberculous cattle will be on generous lines, as it would
be a cause of great regret if the means taken to ensure purity
and wholesomeness increased the price of milk, and so prevented
the poor obtaining a cheap supply of an indispensable
article of food.
In conclusion, I would say that in my opinion one of the
essential conditions for the control of the milk supply is the
granting of security of tenure to the Medical Officers of
Health and Sanitary Inspectors. The fact should not be lost
sight of that no individual district, however strict in its supervision
of the milk business, can protect itself, since milk is
sent from all parts of the country; and if good is to accrue
the Act must be enforced with the same rigour throughout
the country. It is also certain that lax administration in
some districts and strictness in others will be a source of
irritation to the milk trade generally, and will tend to
alienate the sympathy of those public-spirited members of it
who welcome this proposed new legislation.
Slaughterhouses and Meat Inspection.
At the present time there are 12 slaughterhouse in the
district, all of which are now licensed. During the year
these have been constantly inspected, and 294 visits have been
paid. Several of these premises are old and have been in use
for many years, but generally speaking they are kept in a
clean and satisfactory condition. When possible these visits
of the Inspector are made at a time of slaughtering and
preparing the meat for sale.
The Chief Sanitary Inspector holds a certificate in meat
inspection, and is excellently trained in this respect. Owing
to the close proximity of the district to the large cattle
markets of London, only a small proportion of meat sold is
prepared locally, and much has been carefully inspected before
coming into the district.