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24
Proceedings were instituted in three instances against
butchers for exposing for sale, or depositing on the premises
in preparation for sale, diseased meat intended for the food
of man. The Justices regarded the cases as of the utmost
importance and imposed penalties of £3, £10, and £20 respectively.
The seizures were all made on the same day at three
separate shops in Willesden, the source of the supply being
in all instances from the same person.
Suspected Tuberculous Cattle.
During the year information was received by the Health
Department that cows suspected of being tuberculous had
been consigned to premises in Willesden. The premises in
question were kept under continuous observation day and
night. During the watch, several cows, emaciated, weak
and apparently suffering from tuberculosis, were led out to
water on one or two occasions. After observation had been
kept for seven days one of the inspectors saw a man drag the
carcase of a cow to the door of the shed and then hitch on
a chain horse to drag the carcase out. It was then drawn
up by a windlass into a float which was driven to a farm in
an adjoining district. The Sanitary Officials of the adjoining
district were communicated with and the carcase, while
in the act of being dressed, was seized. The carcase showed
Tuberculosis of the Lungs, Mesenteric Glands and various
internal organs. The Council in whose area the carcase was
seized, took no action. Following this incident the watch
on the premises was maintained and the owner of the premises
asked the Medical Officer to inspect the remaining
cows, five in number. All of them were emaciated, and one
was certified to be suffering from Tuberculosis by a veterinary
surgeon. Two of these five were subsequently traced
to slaughter houses where they were slaughtered, found to
be tuberculous, and condemned. The remaining three
eluded the vigilance of the Inspectors.