Dr. J.R. Hutchinson's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary circumstances and administration of the Urban District of Oakengates (Shropshire).

  • Hutchinson, J. R. (James Randal)
Date:
1912
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Dr. J.R. Hutchinson's report to the Local Government Board on the sanitary circumstances and administration of the Urban District of Oakengates (Shropshire). Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    One of tlie fartns visited had a very inadequate water supply which failed altogether last summer. The farmer had pressed the council to supply water from the town’s mains, but this has not been done. No veterinary inspection of the cattle has been made either for the district council or for any outside authority. Recently the inspector of nuisances has been instructed to prepare a report on the condition of the cowsheds in the district. Slaughter-houses.—There are 14 slaughter-houses in the district; they are generally satisfactory and conform with the provisions of the byelaws adopted by the council in 1900. They are visited by the inspector of nuisances whenever he happens to be in their vicinity. On Saturday afternoons and evenings a market is held in the main street of Oakengates, and here large quantities of meat are retailed; much of this is frozen or chilled. In October, 1906, the late medical officer of health represented to the Board that diseased meat was disposed of in the market by outside butchers, wTho brought in carcases “ dressed, stripped and cut-up in small sections,” and he asked if the council had power to make bye- laws which would have the effect of controlling this practice. The Board replied that beyond the existing' powers as to the seizure of meat they were not aware of any enactment which would assist the council in dealing with the matter. Except in the market no routine meat inspection appears to be carried out, and it would in any case be difficult owing to the irregular times of slaughtering. The inspector depends on reports from butchers for his know- ledge of suspicious carcases; only one such case has been reported in the last five years. I am informed that no seizures of meat exposed for sale in the market have ever been made. Bakehouses.—The bakehouses on the register number 18, all of which are above ground. Little exception can be taken to the inside condition of most of them but this does not apply to their surroundings, which in many cases are very dirty. At some premises water-closets have recently been installed for the bakers, but for the most part the accommodation is that provided by pit- privies. More attention ought to be paid to the provision of hand- washing accommodation and the storage and removal of house refuse at these establishments. The administration of the Sale of Eood and Drugs Act is in the hands of the Shropshire County Council, and is not supplemented as regards the adulteration of milk or other foods by the district council. Sanitary Administration . Oakengates is governed by a council of 18 members: the whole council sits as a health committee and holds monthly meetings. The late medical officer of health, who, prior to his appointment in September, 1906, was a member of this body, attended the committee meetings regularly until March, 1911, when he dis- posed of his practice and went to live at Wolverhampton, 16 miles away; he relinquished office at the end of December,
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