The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-09 00:00:00

DISEASED MEAT,

Mr. A. J. BAYLIS, the solicitor to the commission, re-
ported that in accordance with instructions he had caused a
pig dealer, named Sit wart, lately residing at Cupar Angus,
Pertlashir,, Scotland, to be indicted at the last session of the
Central Crimin-1 Court for sending a quantity of diseased
meat to Newgate Ma! ket. The prisoner was tried before Mr.
Commissioner Kerr,and notwithstanding a vigorous defence
made in his behalf by counsel he was convicted and sen-
tenced to 12 months' imprisonment, to pay a fine of £.50,
and to be further imprisoned until the fine was paid. It was
stated that it came out during the trial, by the avowal of
one of the witnesses, that hundreds of animals suffering from
lung diseases were slaughtered and sent up to Newgate
Market from the place in which the prisoner resided alone,
and there could be no doubt that the same practice was
carried on elsewhere in Scotland to a very considerable ex-
tent. It may be stated that out of the 34 cases entrusted to
the solicitor to the commission during the past year, and
in which a discretion had been allowed him whether or not
to take proceedings against the senders, in none of the
cases in which a prosecution was instituted has the evidence
failed to obtain a conviction.

Mr. H. A. ISRAEL, while allowing that the practice of
sending diseased meat to London was one that ought not to
be permitted, could not but help feeling that in this parti-
cular case the sentence was severe and excessive. He
thought the commission should lean on the side of mercy,
and take steps to get the term of the man's imprisonment
lessened.

Deputy EILIOTT and other members thought the decision
a very proper one, for they regarded the offence of sending
diseased meat to London to be used as food as one of the
most serious character. They trusted that the decision of the
judge in this case would caution other persons against send-
ing up to London meat of the description referred to.
It was decided that placards should be prepared for circu-
lation in several of the principal towns of Scotland, caution-
ing persons against sending diseased meat to London.
A communication was read from the Metropolitan Board
of Works, calling the attention of the commission to the
various railway and other schemes affecting the metropolis,
proposed to be proceeded with during the ensuing session of
Parliament, and requesting them to acquaint the board
whether the schemes affected the area within. the jurisdiction
of the Court, and if so in what manner, and to acquaint the
board of any suggestion as to effecting public improvements
in connection therewith which might appear desirable,
The matter was referred to the Improvement Committee
to consider and report.

SANATORY CONDITION OF THE CITY OF LONDON.
Dr. LETHEBY, the medical officer of health, reported on
the state of 192 houses, which had been inspected during
the week, and he submitted a list of 32 places for sanatory
improvement. He likewise reported that the market and
slaughter-houses had been duly inspected, and the officers
had condemned 4,499 lbs. of meat as unfit for human food;
about half of it was putrid, and the rest diseased. It con-
sisted of 35 sheep, 1 calf, 5 pigs, 26 quarters of beef, and 61
joints of meat. Dr. Letheby stated that during the week
a pig dealer, of Cupar Angus, in Perthshire, was tried and
convicted at the Old Bailey for sending diseased meat to
Newgate-market, and he was sentenced to imprisonment for
12 months and a fine of £5O to the Queen.
The mortality returns for the week are below the average
for the season. The total number of deaths was but 58—
the average for the corresponding period of the last 8 years
being 68. Twenty-six, ot about half of the deaths, were
among children ot less than 5 years old, and there were 11
among persons of 30 and upw .rds. The chief causes of
iien:h were as follows :—Phthisis 6, pneumonia 3,bronchitis
10, continu,:cl fever 3, whooping cough 1, scarlet fever 1,
croup and diphtheria 3, and measles I—besides which there
were 8 deaths from convulsions.