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140
SLAUGHTER-HOUSES (METROPOLIS) ACT, 1874.
Section 55 of the Metropolis Buildings Act, 1844, provided
for the abolition of Slaughter Houses in London in 1874.
These establishments were then numerous, and for the most
part unsatisfactory in nearly every respect. Few of them had
been built for the purpose—only one in Kensington out of 48.
Parliament, upon the report of a Select Committee of the House
of Commons, appointed, in 1873, to consider the subject of this
and other ''Noxious Businesses," decided that, subject to proper
regulations, Slaughter Houses might be allowed to remain, and
the above-named Act was passed. In view of probable legislation
I had read a paper before the Society of Medical Officers
of Health (March 21st, 1874), on "Private Slaughter Houses
considered with reference to the report of the Select Committee
on Noxious Businessess." In this paper, after describing the
unsatisfactory state of the Slaughter Houses, and expressing my
preference for the abattoir system, I specified the requirements
of a Sanitary Slaughter House; indicated the conditions
necessary to be enforced by bye-laws ; foretold that suitable
regulations would lead to a large reduction in the number of
Slaughter Houses, and insisted on the necessity for a heavy and
irreducible penalty for breach of the regulations. The Act was
passed; the Metropolitan Board was constituted " Local
Authority" for carrying it out, and regulations were framed
practically embodying my views. The Regulations, however,
made no provision for separation of the lairage from the slaughter
house, to prevent the living animals seeing the butcher at his
work, nor for an entrance to the slaughter house independent
of the house or shop. For both these points your
Vestry, at my instance, contended successfully before the
justices, and the Local Authority subsequently followed suit.
Your Vestry, moreover, insisted upon the provision of a water
supply in the lairs. In 1875 I made proposals for amendment
of the bye-laws, which were approved by the Society of Medical
Officers of Health : but the bye-laws remain now as they were