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50
UNSOUND FOOD.
The Report of the Medical Officer of Health for the City of London,
presented to the Court of Common Council in November last, stated that
some carcasses of pigs had been imported into this country from Belgium and
had been seized by the City Meat Inspectors as being "markedly infected
with tuberculosis."
I append some correspondence which took place in the Spring of this year
between the Consul-General for Belgium and myself, on the subject of the
importation of meat from Belgium, and it will be noted that if the examination
had been carried out as carefully as is therein stated, there should have been no
possibility at all events of pigs "markedly infected with tuberculosis" being
imported into this country.
" 16th November, 1905.
" Sir,
"Dr. Collingridge, the Medical Officer of Health for the City of
"London, in his last Report to the Sanitary Committee mentions that
"the Food Inspectors for the City had seized some carcasses of pigs
"imported from Belgium which were 'markedly infected with
" tuberculosis.'
"In each instance the carcasses bore impressions in aniline ink, made
"by a rubber stamp, which presumably showed that the carcasses had
" been subjected to inspection in Belgium.
"You will remember some correspondence I had with you dated
"3rd April and 3rd May last on this subject, and you were good enough
"to furnish me with some information which indicated that all meat
"exported to this country from Belgium was subjected to a rigorous
" inspection.
"It would appear, therefore, that this inspection is not so carefully
"done as was indicated by your letters to me, and I have to suggest
"that you bring these facts to the notice of the responsible Authority in
"Belgium, with a view to the examination of all meat exported from
" there to this country being performed in so rigorous a manner that it
" will not be possible for diseased meat to be exported.
"I have no desire to place any restrictions on the exportation of meat
"to this country, and I only desire to indicate that should the