INSPECTION OF MEAT. A DEFECT POINTED OUT.

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 82, 4 October 1904, Page 5

INSPECTION OF MEAT. A DEFECT POINTED OUT.

An important matter affectiug the reputation of our meat on the London market is mentioned by the Chief Veterinarian (Mr. J. A. Gilruth) in the course of his report to the Minister for Agriculture. "1 referred last year," he writes, "to a report, which had been received from the Produce Commissioner, concerning mutton which had been passed here being condemned in London. I regret that a similar report has been received this year, to tho eftect that out of a small shipment of mutton "some Y3 per cent, was condemned at Smithfield, some of the carcases, indeed, weighing so little as 231b. Fortunately the Commissioner forwarded the labels taken from some of these light carcases, and oil the matter being referred to the Veterinarian responsible, he reported that the labels- in question >vere some of those actually kept for the purpose of denoting carcases >?hich were rejeoted as being unsuitable for export, though passed by bhe Inspector as being free from disease, and which meat the company was in the habit of disposing of among its employees, for canning purposes, and for 'small goods.' The fact' that these carcases had been included in a shipment, although rejected as unsuitable for export by the Inspector, and labelled accordingly, is," says the Chief Veterinarian, "absolute proof of the contention I raised in reporting on the condemnation of meat in London last year. I stated then that the conditions under which inspection is at piesent carried out 'show lac responsibility which rests on the officers of the division, and I cannot dwell too strongly on the disabilities under wnioh .Jrhey labour. They must pass meat which is free from disease (as defined), and which, in their opinion, is fit for human consumption. I am personally (satisfied that every care is taken both In the interests of the consumer, whether here or abroad, and of the producer and exporter. But ■with the employment of paper tags simply tied to the hind leg, and the possibilities of transference, instead of an indelible stamp on the carcase itself, and the failure to adopt a proper system of grading, there are few or no adventitious safeguards." I submit that the recommendations contained in my last report, particularly the one recommending the appointment of a Veterinary Officer of the Division in London, whereby a recurrence of these condemnations could be prevented, are worthy of careful consideration.' "

There were 183 patients in the Hospital this morning, being ll more than at the same time last year. Of to-day's inmates 105 are males, and 20 are children. The epidemic of measles that is being experienced in the city has filled tho fever wards, there being 17 patients in the main hospital, and 14 at Berhampore. The Chairman of the Trustees, in answer to a question from Mr. London this morning, said that more fever patients were received at the Hospital now than formerly, because of the operations of the Health Department. Patients were sent to the Hospital now instead of being treated in their own homes 4