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255
[1907
There must, however, of necessity, in a population of nearly 350,000 inhabitants, be a
considerable number of families who cannot afford to buy the primest meats; consequently
a proportionate amount of cheaper meats are in constant demand, which is provided for
principally by frozen and chilled meats, from the Argentine States, and frozen meats
from Australia and New Zealand. These as a rule are of good nutritive quality, but
when cut up and exposed to a higher temperature than that at which they have been
preserved, the juices of the meat run out from the joints, and gives them a wet and not
very tempting appearance, but prime cuts can be purchased at about 3d. to 5d. per lb. less
than that of the finest home-killed meats.
A large number of worn out dairy cows, bulls, etc., are annually killed at the
Metropolitan Cattle Market, the meat of which is generally of very poor nutritive value,
and a goodly proportion of these are condemned by the inspectors there, although very
many do not on post-mortem examination manifest sufficient evidence of disease to
warrant their condemnation, consequently they are passed on to supply the needs of those
who cannot afford anything more expensive. Your Inspector, however, is able to report
that although the Borough of Islington would be the most convenient outlet for this meat,
for some reason or another very little indeed of this finds its way into the shops or on
to the street stalls coming under his observation, so that not only has there been a marked
improvement in the quality of meat killed in the private slaughterhouses in recent years,
but also of that found in the shops and on the stalls, and whilst it may not be possible
to still further raise the standard of quality to any appreciable extent, no reasonable effort
will be spared to maintain it in its present satisfactory position.
A glance at Table "B" of this report will show the different circumstances under
which unsound foodstuffs were found during the year, and that the amount has been small
in comparison to the amount of meat consumed, due in part probably to the weather of
last summer not being so unfavourable for perishable goods, but mainly to the fact that
under a regular systematic supervision of shops and places where foodstuffs are dealt with, very
considerable quantities of meat and other goods which begin to show signs of decomposition arcknown
to be regularly destroyed or so disposed of as to leave no doubt for what purpose they
are intended, rather than risk any responsibility from a probable visit of the Inspector.
Only two summonses were taken out under the Unsound Food Clauses of the Public
Health (London) Act. In one instance a butcher had some carcascs of pigs sent up from
the country, and was found exposing for sale two pigs' heads, the glands of which were
diseased, and on appearing before the magistrate pleaded guilty to the charge, but denied
any guilty knowledge. The magistrate, after hearing the facts, suggested that the summons
should be withdrawn on payment of costs (24s.), which was agreed.
A baker was summoned for having unsound potatoes on his premises for the
purpose of preparation for sale in the making of bread, and was ordered six weeks
imprisonment, but on an appeal being made to the magistrate, owing to family circumstances,
ultimately a fine of £10 and £5 5s. costs was imposed in lieu of imprisonment.
The remaining cases respectively dealt with in table "B" were only such as will
occur from time to time in the best regulated districts, in accordance with atmospheric
conditions, coupled with the neglect and carelessness of traders and their assistants, and
in proportion to the amount of inspection exercised over them.