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the habit of buying rejected canned goods from importers, etc., for
tne purpose ot teeding pigs. In fact, the invoices that were produced
were marked "pigs' food," but he failed to show that he had ever
sold a tin in his life for pigs' food. The tins, when the contents are
bad, become bulged or blown from the formation of the gas produced
during putrefaction. These tins were pricked to let out the gas, resoldered,
and fresh labels pasted over. The result was that the tins
would appear good, and would remain apparently good for two or
three weeks. When I made the seizure, several men were employed
putting on these labels. The case lasted five days, ana Mr.
Dickenson having found him guilty, sentenced him to five months
hard labour. It was a very severe sentence, but not too severe,
considering the amount of injury the man could do, and has
undoubtedly done.
2.—March 20th, accompanied by the Inspector for the No. 2
District, I seized about a hundredweight of meat belonging to a
butcher in White Horse Street. It was exposed for sale and was
unsound and quite unfit for human consumption. It was condemned
by the magistrate and the owner was fined £5 and costs.
3.—July 17th the Sanitary Inspector for the No. 3 District saw
two vans containing 117 tubs of strawberries, in Devonport Street,
Ratcliff. He thought they appeared suspicious and detained them
until I arrived. After examining and finding them unsound and quite
unfit for human consumption, 1 seized them and took them before
the magistrate at the Thames Police Court to have them condemned.
The magistrate refused to grant an order for their destruction, as no
evidence was produced that they were exposed for sale at the time
of the seizure, though they had been offered for sale and refused by
a jam manufacturer in Ratcliff half an hour previously. The owner
admitted that they were unsound, and afterwards made an application
for them to be destroyed as trade refuse. They were accordingly
destroyed at the owner's expense. Section 47 of the Act, under
which I made the seizure is as follows:—(1) Any Medical Officer
of Health or Sanitary Inspector may at all reasonable times enter
any premises, and inspect and examine (b) any article, whether solid
or liquid, intended for the food of man, and sold, or exposed for sale,
or deposited in any place for the purpose of sale or preparation of
sale, the proof that the same was not exposed or deposited for any
such purpose, or was not intended for the food of man, resting with