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29
INSPECTION AND SUPERVISION OF FOOD.
(A) MILK SUPPLY.
Distribution.
There was no change in the number of producers of milk as
compared with the previous year, and in regard to the retailers
the only changes were the reduction of one in the number of
those not occupying premises in the district and a reduction of
three in-the number of shops from which milk is sold in unopened
receptacles only. The only change in the licences issued was
one less supplementary licence issued to a producer outside the
district to retail T.T. milk here, and a similar reduction regarding
the supplementary licences to retail pasteurized milk here. On
the other hand, there were three more premises other than those
in which pasteurization took place from which pasteurized milk is
sold.
Sampling.
Eighteen samples of pasteurized milk were submitted to
bacteriological examination and the phosphatase test. A sample
from one firm who pasteurize in this district proved unsatisfactory;
after inspection of the premises a further sample showed a vast
improvement but was not altogether satisfactory; two further
samples taken a little later passed the phosphatase test and had
low bacterial counts. Four samples of T.T. milk and four of the
five samples of ungraded milk produced locally gave satisfactory
counts.
(B) MEAT.
Inspection.
In the early days of the year slaughtering of animals at the
eight licensed slaughter-houses in the district ceased to be carried
out. At one institution a limited amount of killing has taken
place regularly throughout the year so that 53 visits were necessary,
a total of 326 carcases being examined.
Of the 51 beasts slaughtered 22 were unsound in some respect,
in 14 (or 28 per cent.) the lesion being tuberculosis, and in five
parasitic disease. Of the 167 pigs killed eight (or 5 per cent.)
showed tuberculous lesions, one-half in the lungs, the other half
in the liver. One entire carcase was condemned on account of
fevered condition. Only two of the 76 sheep were unsound in
any respect, the lungs and livers of both carcases being affected
with parasitic disease. None of the 32 calves killed exhibited
any signs of disease.
The Live-Stock (Restriction on Slaughtering) Order, 1940, of
the Ministry of Food came into operation on January 15th, 1940.
While for many years the continuance of the use of the large
number of private slaughter-houses in this country has been
accepted as a reproach on the public health service in that so many