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Public Health (Meat) Regulations, 1924—These Regulations provide that no person may
slaughter any animal without first giving verbal or written notice to the Council of his intention.
Upon receipt of such notice, the Council's Food Inspector attends during the slaughtering process
whether by day or night, and examines all carcases immediately afterwards. During the year
two hundred and eighty-two slaughterhouse inspections were made.

Diseased meat condemned during this period was as follows:—
Carcases (including organs) 2
Forequarters 4
Plucks 85
Heads 86
Livers 50
Lungs 74
The Regulations prescribe for the protection of meat from contamination by dirt and flies in
shops, on stalls and during transit. The administration of this requirement has been rendered
somewhat difficult owing to the various interpretations which could be placed upon the Regulations
dealing with this matter. The Ministry of Health issued a Circular in 1925, which stated that the
provision of glass fronts to butchers' shops in all cases was not contemplated, and that the precautions
which it would be reasonable to require under the Regulations must depend on the
circumstances of individual cases. Speaking generally, the Council have every reason to feel
satisfied with the way in which butchers have responded to the demands made upon them.
Of the 114 butchers' shops within the Borough 112 have been provided with glass fronts, whilst
in the two shops remaining precautions have been taken which would probably satisfy the
Magistrates that the Regulations have been adequately observed; at the present time there is not
one shop in the Borough where the Council could, with any prospect of success, issue a summons
•for non-compliance with the Regulations.
It should, however, be pointed out that in many cases the glass fronts are kept open at times of
the day when trade does not require this. It is significant that in the better-class areas in the
Borough, it is usual for the windows to be kept closed at all times, probably because traders recognise
that the customers in their areas appreciate the necessity of care being taken to keep meat free
from contamination. With the advance of public opinion on the question of clean food, it is hoped
that the officers of the Public Health Department will be able to persuade all butchers to keep
their shop windows closed much more than is the case at the present time.
The precautions taken by those traders who retail meat from street stalls are not adequate.
Ice Cream.—The ice cream trade is mainly regulated under the London County Council
(General Powers) Act, 1902, which makes it an offence to store ice cream in a sleeping room or in
any shed or room in which there is an inlet to a drain. Vendors of ice cream are also required to
notify the occurrence of infectious disease among their employees or persons living on their premises.
The Act further provides that every itinerant vendor shall exhibit on his barrow the name and address
of the person from whom the ice cream has been obtained.
One hundred and fourteen visits to ice cream premises were made by the Inspectors during
the year.