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105
Under the Meat Inspection Regulations a post-mortem examination of
all animals killed was carried out by the Public Health Inspectors, all of
whom are qualified Inspectors of meat and other foods. Some Authorities,
where the volume of killing is great, employ "Authorised Officers" to
carry out routine inspections under the supervision of a Public Health
Inspector. Even with Authorised Officers some Authorities have difficulty
in maintaining a hundred per cent inspection.
All animals are killed and dressed by Licensed Slaughtermen in accordance
with the Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) Regulations,
which demand the confinement of cattle in an approved type of
stunning pen before stunning with a humane captive bolt pistol. Pigs,
Sheep and Calves are stunned by means of an electro-lethaler.
The great majority of cattle killed in Harrow are young and of high
quality, destined for butchers meat, as opposed to the more aged cow,
which is often sent away for manufacturing purposes. No beasts were condemned
as unfit during 1965 and it is three years since Tuberculosis was
found in a bovine carcase. This is undoubtedly a direct result of the tuberculin
testing of herds and the eradication of reactors.
Cysticercus Bovis, the larval stage of a tapeworm in man, was isolated
in 0.93% (0.87%) of cattle. This condition still remains a problem but the
life cycle of this parasite is broken by extreme refrigeration and infested
carcases are held at 14° fahrenheit for fourteen days or 20° fahrenheit for
twenty-one days, after which they may safely be released.
With regard to other conditions, the percentage of beasts' carcases
of which some part or organ was condemned was 17.9% (18.2%), the
principal causes being fluke infestation or abscesses of the liver.
The incidence of Tuberculosis in pigs (all cases of which were localised
to the head) was 1.49% (3.03%). This represents a big improvement on
the situation before the war when the percentage was 8T. Other diseases
or conditions necessitating the condemnation of some part or organ were
found in 18.1 % (11.6%) of pigs killed, the lung, liver and heart being the
most commonly affected in that order.
The carcases of seven pigs had to be totally condemned due to such
conditions as Pneumonia, Erysipelas and Bruising.
Three sheep carcases, all ewes, were also totally condemned due to
emaciation associated with oedema, whilst parasitic infestations of the liver
were responsible for the great majority of the 5.6% (3.3%) of cases where
some part or organ was condemned.
The public do not always appreciate what is done by local authorities
to ensure that their meat supplies are free from disease and today complaints
from the public in respect of the fitness of any meat purchased are
very rare indeed.
In the absence of suitable disposal facilities in Harrow, all condemned
meat is collected by the Health Department and taken to the Wembley
Destructor where it is destroyed under supervision by incineration.