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53
Meat condemned is rendered useless for human consumption
by the use of a strong disinfectant or a powerful dye.
It is perhaps of interest to mention that it was not found
necessary to seize any meat during the year, as we were successful
in effecting the surrender of all the unsound meat
condemned by us.
Tuberculosis.
The presence of any degree of tuberculosis in a carcase
necessitates a special and searching examination to ascertain
the degree of infection from which the animal was suffering—
and upon this depends the extent of the condemnation.
Some difficulty has been experienced in the examination
for tuberculosis of animals—especially pigs—killed during the
evening, and which have had to be examined by artificial light.
It has frequently been necessary to arrange for the removal of
carcases to be delayed until after re-examination, in daylight,
early the following morning.
The deposition of tubercular lesions is shown in
Appendices VI. and VII.
Times of Slaughtering.
The slaughtering of animals within the Borough takes
place daily, including Sundays, at all hours of the day, particularly
during the afternoon and evening. In consequence,
much of the work of inspection is continued till a late hour.
This is particularly the case where slaughtering is taking place
for the early morning meat market, and on a number of
occasions this has necessitated examinations being conducted
up till as late as midnight on Sundays.
The Regulations provide that carcases and offal, excepting
stomachs, intestines and bladders, shall be retained for three
hours after slaughter, save in the case of sheep or where
notice of regular slaughter has been given. It would be of
advantage if all carcases and all offal were required to be kept
at the place of slaughter for three hours after killing, irrespective
of notice of regular slauehter havine been given.
Tetters of warning were sent to several butchers drawing
attention to infringements of the Regulations, but in only
two cases were legal proceedings found necessary. In these
cases convictions were obtained, and fines and costs amounting
to £26 5s. were imposed.
No prosecutions were instituted under the By-Laws, but
letters of warning were sent to certain butchers in connection
with humane slaughtering.