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56
where they are killed within three days. They are afterwards sold in the ordinary
way in butcher's shops, and are not converted into sausages. Rotterdam, as well as
other continental towns, are supplied with sausages from Ghent.
German sausages are only sold in 8 shops in the Borough, the price being 1/8 to
2/- a pound. They are therefore too expensive to be sold extensively in the East
End of London.
It is stated that the presence of horseflesh may be inferred, when a fairly large
quantity of Glycogen is found to be present by chemical examination. Mutton and
pork do not contain any Glycogen, but it may be present in beef under certain
circumstances. In the presence of bread, it is impossible to obtain the Glycogen
reaction without first separating the starch. This complicates the analysis of
sausages.which generally contain bread and other starchy matter.
I have examined German sausages from each of these eight shops, but have
failed to detect the presence of horseflesh in any of them.
It is true that there are other shops in the Borough where German sausages
are supposed to be sold. These so-called German sausages are manufactured in the
Borough of Stepney, entirely by Jews. The meat is therefore not horseflesh, as
Jews will neither eat nor prepare for human food any animal that has not been
slaughtered according to the Jewish religion.
I have had over 24 years' experience of the East End of London, including five
yeais as a medical man in general practice, and 13 years as a Medical Officer of Health
and Public Analyst. I have found no evidence whatever that poor people in the
Borough of Stepney eat catsmeat, and I have not the slightest hesitation in saying
that they do not knowingly eat horseflesh, either as catsmeat or sausages.
Inhabited House Duty.
During the year, seven applications were received for certificates under the
Inland Revenue Act, 1903, for the purpose of securing remission or reduction of
inhabited house duty.
These referred to 44 tenements, all of which ultimately were satisfactory and
certificates were given.
General Sanitary Work.
In the Sanitary Inspectors' Report table will be found the amount of work
carried out by each Inspector during the year, together with its nature.
30,296 houses were inspected, 7,017 being the result of house to house
visitation.