[Report 1953] / Medical Officer of Health, Witham U.D.C.

  • Witham (England). Urban District Council.
Date:
1953
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1953] / Medical Officer of Health, Witham U.D.C. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    19? 8. 1952. mi- Cattle, excluding cows C ows * ... Calves Sheep and lambs Rigs * ° ... Goats ... ... .*.. 710. 12 • • • • f • • . 135. .,. .„ ... 2,438. ... ... 2,266. • • • t • • 1,890. 641. 1,376. 3,529. 1,701. 3. 1,917. 420. 861. 3,704. 3,328L l! i •• Totals . . ,... ... ..*• 5,561. 9,140. 10,231 The slaughterhouse serves not only the Witham Urban District, but the adjoining districts of Maldon Rural District, Maidon Borough, Burnham-on-Crouch Urban District and part of Braintree Rural District, comprising a population of about 35,000. 'As in previous years, much overtime had to be worked by the Council’s Inspectors to maintain 100% inspection. All inspection' is carried out on the lines of Memo 62 Foods, issued by the Ministry of Health, with the exception that ante-mortem inspection is not always possible.. The high proportion of casualty animals and cows now killed accounts largely for the post-war increase in condemnation. ■ * X' The year was marked by a considerable increased incidence of Swine Fever, which was discovered on four occasions among pigs sent in for slaughter. The incidence of this disease is known to have been high in the area during the year. A high incidence of septic polyarthritis was also noted among young calves. Forty-eight cases (2.0570 of Cysticercus Bovis were, detected, and in these cases the Ministry of Food’s recommended procedure was adopted, i.e, condemnation of parts known to be affected, and refrigeration of the remainder for at least three weeks before issue. It is a noticeable feature of this disease that it most frequently occurs in young, well-fattened cattle, and is rarely encountered in old animals. . - '