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2. Because private slaughter-houses afford facilities for the slaughtering
of diseased animals, and enable the owners of such diseased animals
readily to dispose of the unwholesome meat. The improper use which
is made of private slaughter-houses was pointed out in my Quarterly
Report for December, 1869.
3. Because thedriving of cattle through the crowded streets of London
is not only a great annoyance to the inhabitants, but is a source of danger
to life and limb.
4. Because theerection of asufficientnumberof well-ventilated public
slaughter-houses in suitable places within reasonable distances from the
centre of the Metropolis would be highly advantageous to the whole population,
inasmuch as the animals intended for slaughter would be inspected
by qualified officers, and if found to be diseased proper steps would be
promptly taken to prevent the use Of such meat for human food.
5. Because the flesh of the animals slaughtered in airyand well-ventilated
public slaughter-houses, and under proper inspection, will keep
longer in a fresh state than when animals are slaughtered in some of
the ill-ventilated slaughter-houses in London.
If the City of Glasgow, with a population of 500,000, has thought it
expedient, as a means of improving the public health, to prohibit the use
of private slaughter-houses, and has erected three public slaughter-houses
for the use of the butchers, it is surely quite possible, with the same object
in view, for the local authorities in London to erect a sufficient number
of public slaughter-houses for the slaughtering of all the cattle which
are required for the use of the inhabitants of this vast city.
In the reign of Henry VII. a petition was presented to Parliament
by the Parishioners of the Parish of St. Faith and St. Gregory, in London,
setting forth that they had been greatly annoyed and distempered by the
corrupt airs engendered in the said Parishes by occasion of blood and
other foul things by the reason of the slaughter of beasts.
In consequence of this petition it was enacted, Anno Quarto Henrici
VII., cap. iii., that no butcher or his servant should slay any beast within
the walls of London. It was also enacted that half the penalty for committing
the offence should go to the King, and the other half to every
one of the King's lieges that would sue for the same by action of debt.
I am, Gentleman,
Your obedient Servant,
JOHN LIDDLE.
15, Great Alic Street.