London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
Hammersmith 1925
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Hammersmith]
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and that the same general standard of freedom from contamination
should be aimed at both for shops and for stalls.
The steps necessary to protect meat against contamination
must depend on the circumstances of the shop or stall in
relation to the sources of possible contamination and also on
the conditions under which trade is carried on. In no
circumstances, however, should meat be allowed to project
outside the limits of the wall or screen of the shop or stall,
where it would be especially exposed to contamination from
the street, and it should be kept as far within those limits
as is practicable. Where meat has to be kept near to an
open window the general rule should be that it should be
covered with clean muslin or other suitable material, but local
authorities will no doubt realise that, when a brisk trade is
being carried on, this precaution may have to be suspended
so that meat may be readily accessible.
In view of this circular, it was impossible to ask the
retailers to provide windows, and the Regulations were thus
rendered practically unworkable in this respect.
As a matter of interest, I have summarised the shops and stalls under the following headings:—
| Open. No meat exposed outside. | Shut. No meat exposed outside. | Open. Meat exposed outside. | Shut. Meat exposed outside. | No Glass Fronts. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shops | 7 | 36 | 17 | 2 | 14 |
| Stalls | - | - | 1 | - | 5 |
Transport and Handling.—The section covering this question
has done much to improve the conditions under which
meat is handled and transported. It has not been necessary
to take action in the Borough under this heading, although
proceedings have been instituted with success elsewhere.
Licensed Slaughterhouses.—At the annual licensing of
slaughterhouses in October, I received notices from seven
Licensees of their intention to make application to the London
County Council for the renewal of their Licences.
In all cases these premises were found to be, as far as
your Council's requirements were concerned, in a satisfactory
condition. No opposition was offered to the renewal of the
licences.