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38
Consignments which arrived in chambers specially equipped to maintain a
constant concentration of carbonic acid gas were in excellent condition at the time
of arrival, and the meat was very favourably commented upon in Smithfield Market.
We may undoubtedly look forward to the establishment, in the near future, of
a regular trade in chilled beef from the Antipodes.
Caseous Lymphadenitis.—During the year the proportion of carcases of
imported mutton examined for Caseous Lymphadenitis, irrespective of the country of
origin, remained at 5 per cent., and that for pieces of mutton at 100 per cent.

Percentage condemned.
From Australia 0.07
„ New Zealand 0.05
„ South America 0.25
Pig Carcases.—A careful examination was made of a percentage of pig carcases
arriving in the Port, the number of carcases examined being 2,632. Five carcases
were found to be diseased.
Actinobacillosis in Ox Tongues.—A percentage examination was made of
every consignment of ox tongues arriving in the Port. 181 consignments were put
in dock store, where careful examination was made by your Officers of 14,238 tongues,
and 97 tongues were found affected with Actinobacillosis.
During March two consignments of bacon representing 1,208 sides arrived from
Hamburg and were condemned on account of bone taint and decomposition.
Boracised hams arrived in fairly large quantities from U.S.A. and Canada, and
went forward to the Southwark district, where their distribution for export or ship
stores was controlled by the Medical Officer of Health of Southwark.
Canned Goods.
The results of the examination of consignments of sardines for contamination by
lead are given on pages 45 to 55.
During the latter part of the year a number of samples of canned sild were found
to be contaminated with tin. Investigation of this matter is being continued.
A consignment of 240 cases of canned mutton from Australia arrived in December,
and 40 cases, representing 480 tins, were found to be blown and leaky, and were
destroyed.
A number of consignments of grape fruit juice arrived and were found to contain
an excess of sulphur dioxide preservative. These consignments were, however,
released under Section 11 (1) (iii.) (b) of the Public Health (Preservatives, &c., in Food)
Regulations, the importers guaranteeing that the juice would be "so treated before
it is sold or exposed for sale by retail as to comply with the provisions of the Schedule
as regards the proportion of sulphur dioxide contained."
A consignment of pineapple chunks in water arrived from Singapore. On
examination a large percentage of the tins were found to have been re-soldered.
The attention of the importers was drawn to this undesirable practice and all tins
showing more than one puncture hole were destroyed.