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
City of London 1913
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Port of London]
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55
SCRAP MEAT.
On the arrival of the s.s. "Koningin Regentes" at Queen borough on the 17th
June, the meat cargo was inspected in the usual way, when it was found that one
basket (part of a consignment of 58 baskets, manifested as offal) contained scrap meat.
Although scrap meat is an illegal importation, the package bore the official
certificate of the Government of the Netherlands.
A notice, as required by Article III. (5) of the Public Health (Foreign Meat)
Regulations, 1908, was served upon the importer, and the meat was returned to the
port of shipment.
The facts were brought to the notice of the Consul-General to the Netherlands.
TABLE XXX.
PUBLIC HEALTH (FOREIGN MEAT) REGULATIONS, 1908.
During the year Notices were served under Article III. (5) and VI. of the above-mentioned Regulations, requiring the exportation of the following meat:—
| Date of Arrival. | Name of Vessel. | Where from. | Where lying. | Description and quantity of foreign meat in respect of which Notices were served. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913. | ||||
| Jan. 15 | s.s. "Anglian" | Boston | Royal Albert Dock | 2 pig carcases. |
| June 17 | s.s. "Koningin Regentes " | Flushing - | Queen borough | 1 basket scrap meat. |
| Oct. 23 | s.s. "Koningin Wilhelmina" | Do. | Do. | 2 calf carcasses. |
The s.s. "Turakina," from New Zealand, arrived in the Port of London on the
14th May, 1913. The vessel caught fire at Rio de Janeiro, and was beached and
flooded with water. The cargo comprised, inter alia, 50,000 carcases of mutton, about
900 tons of butter, and about 14,000 crates of cheese. Most of this cargo was under
water.
The carcases of mutton were removed from the vessel at Rio de Janeiro, taken to
sea and thrown overboard. The butter and the cheese were brought to London in the
vessel.
Much of the butter had been melted, and had to be dug out of the ship's hold.
The Port of London Authority could not take it into their warehouse, so it was allowed
to proceed to two riverside wharves to be dealt with under the supervision of the
Medical Officers of Health in whose districts the wharves are situated.
About 5,000 crates of the cheese (3,000 of which were brought to London in the
s.s. "Catalina") were sorted under the supervision of your officers, with the result
that 552 tons were destroyed as unfit for human food.