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(2). Any dairyman after he becomes aware that any
cow in his dairy is suffering from Tuberculosis with emaciation
or from Tuberculosis of the udder, or is giving Tuberculous
milk, shall so far as is practicable, not keep that cow or
permit it to be kept in any field, shed, or other premises
along with other cows in milk, and if he does so he shall be
liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding five
pounds. (Birmingham).
SLAUGHTER HOUSES.
On the 13th December, 1910, the Local Government Board
issued a letter from which the following is quoted :—
" The Board desire to be informed precisely what arrangements
are made by the Council for the inspection of meat in
the district, and they request that the Medical Officer of
Health may be instructed to include in his Annual Report
an account of these arrangements, showing how many
slaughter-houses there are in the district; whether they are
visited at times of slaughtering ; whether there is an Inspector
with a special certificate in meat inspection; whether any,
and, if so, how many carcases or parts of carcases were
found to be tuberculous; and what action was taken in each
case in which tuberculosis was detected."
There are 11 slaughter-houses in the district, three of which
are licensed and the rest registered. The Inspector of Nuisances
acts as Meat Inspector, but holds no certificate in meat inspection.
One of the Assistant Inspectors possesses the required qualification,
but has no status under the Public Health Act to seize meat. In
a wide district like this with a number of slaughter-houses to
supervise, in all of which killing takes place on Thursdays, it is
impossible for one man to cover the ground. This is one reason
why the Council requires power to appoint more than one
Inspector of Nuisances, i.e., to convert its Assistant Inspectors
into Inspectors with statutory powers.
Under existing conditions meat inspection cannot be thorough.
368 visits have been paid during the year, or about 33 visits to