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am satisfied that every man of you participates in my feelings . " ( General applawse . \ On the suggestion of the Lord Mayor , a round of cheers was given for the commanding officers of the various , regiments- - . The Chaiunmn Qto the men ) : " Now , file off in the . best way you caa , my lade . " For two hours , the Guards paraded about the grounds , and then , returning to the music-hall , they listened to a vocal and instrumental , concert . The evening ' s entertainments concluded with a display of fireworks , after which , at Dine o ' clock , the soldiers marched home . account
" Independently of the military , " says the from which we have already quoted , " there could not have been less than 20 , 000 persons present . Nor must we forget to mention that among the illustrious visitors waa Mrs . Seacole , whose appearance awakened the most rapturous enthusiasm . The soldiers not only cheered her , but chaired her around the gardens , and she really might have suffered from the oppressive attentions of her admirers , were it not that two sergeants of extraordinary stature gallantly undertook to protect her from the pressure of the crowd . However , the excellent lady did not appear in the least alarmed , but , on the contrary , smiled most gracipusly and seemed highly gratified . the
" The liberality of the Directors of Royal Surrey Gardens should not be forgotten . Not only did they grant the use of their beautiful pleasure-grounds gratuitously , but they placed at the disposal of the committee the receipts at the doors up to five o ' clock . The subscriptions exceed 1100 / ., and the committee have on hand a handsome sum for presentation to some military eharifcy . " Of the character of the dinner provided for the men , the Daily News thus writes : — ' ^ Luxuries and delicacies may scarcely be thought suited to the appetites of private soldiers , but good solid rounds and barons of beef , quarters of mutton , and such like substantial fare might be supposed to constitute an appropriate repast for men at
arms in these , as in olden times . There was cold ham and cold beef , but apparently in no superfluous abundance : the beef , instead of being placed on the table in huge joints as in good old English fashion , for the men to cut at and come again , was brought in cut up in slices as from a oook ' s shop . There were a few lettuces placed at intervals along the tables , alternated with saucers containing about half a dozen small apples each , and plates having upon them slices of a black-looking composition , which a spectator in the galleries might imagine was intended to do duty as pudding , but which the men seemed to regard rather as one of ' the properties ' of the establishment than a » an article of food . Altogether ,
the dinner was . of that description which an Alton aleshop or an ordinary public-house would have supplied for about sixpence or ninepence a head , exclusive of the stout and wine ; and , unless a very large profit indeed has been permitted to the contractor , there must be a handsome sum remaining over in the hands of the committee , to bo applied , in accordance with the terms of their advertisement , in aid of the various public charities in connexion with the naval and military services . " This shabby banquet was despatched in about twenty minutes ; and the toasts were drunk—to perpetrate a Hibernicismwithout an 3 'thing to drink them in . The writer in the Daily News proceeds : —
" The dinner having terminated about four , and the succeeding two hours being occupied in the manner indicated , about six o ' clock preparations were made for the concert . And here arose another evidence of mismanagement on the part of the dinner committee ; or it should rather be said an exhibition of the grossest negligence . It was a part of the programme that the centre of the hall should be reserved expressly for tho soldiers —an arrangement which was obviously nothing but simple justice to the subscribers of the dinner fund , who had boon promised certain things in return for their money , not to mention tho guosts of the day—the soldiers theinsolvcB . In point of fuct , however , tho general company , who were admitted after five o'clock on tho
customary payment of la ., had been allowed to monopolize that portion of tho building while the soldiers were innocently enjoying themselves outside , and when the concert commenced the public seemed determined to keep their ground . An unsnemly row was tho consequence . Tlie committee at first evinced a desire to turn out those who ought not to have been admitted , at least to that part of tho building ; they wore , however , compelled to ubmulon their intention , M . . Million justly remarking from tho orchestra , amid tho tumult of chaotic Hound . s which greeted him , that it was now ' too late . ' Tho wholo thing wan , in short , an irremediable moss . Of tho yOOO ( iuanl . s , probably not more than ^ 00 had
placos of any kind , though many more evinced a strong doairo to bo accommodated . It in consolatory to think that what iu likuly to bo impressed most permanently on tho minds of tho Guards in , not tho dinner or tho concert , but tlui reception they met with from tho throng awsemblcd to welcome , them . Tho spirit iu which they viewed tho matter waa well expressed by a veteran , who , when questioned respecting tho dinner , of which ho had just partaken , replied , with soldierly decision , ' Tho dinner waa nothing , Mir —it wiih tho reception ; no man among us cared for tho dinner , but wo all feol that no portion of tho British army ever had tuieh a reception licforc' " Jt should bo added that tho Monday Post gives A directly onpouitc Mccount of tho dinner .
DISEASED MEAT . As a companion to the report of the Parliamentary Committee on the Adulteration of Food , &c , of which we last week gave an ample summary , we have this week the report of a committee , consisting of Dr . Letheby , Dr . R . IX Thomson , Dr . Barnes , Mr . Twiddle , Dr . Gibbon , and I > r . Druitt , with Dr . Challice as Chairman , appointed by the Metropolitan Association of Medical OflSeers of Health , to inquire
into the facts relating to the alleged sale of diseased and unwholesome meat in the metropolis , as well as the ill effects arising therefrom , and the best mode of prevention . Some of the disclosures contained in this document are even more horrible and disgusting than the facts brought forward in the Parliamentary report . In vain do the poor fly from alumy and sandy bread to meat : in the cheap butcher ' s shop , they run a chance of being poisoned by the most dreadful forms of animal corruption . We read in the
report alluded to : — " Your committee consider the fact to be fully proved , that large quantities of unwholesome meat are constantly on sale to the lower orders in London . At their first meeting , on the 21 st of June , Dr . Challice produced several specimens w hieh had been exposed for sale at butchers' shops in Southwark , and which had been either purchased by him or seized under his directions on the same day . For example , there was a sheep ' s liver which had been seized . It was dark , soft , and ill-smelling , and the veins contained fibrinous coagula . There was a shoulder of mutton , purchased at 7 d . per 1 b . ; the fat of a dirty yellow , the muscle emaciated , and of a peculiar
light colour and sour smell . There was part of a sirloin , purchased at 6 d . in Bermondsey , not ill-looking , but wonderfully thin and quite destitute of fat . There were also specimens of veal and beef of nauseous appearance ; and side by side with these Dr . Challice exhibited a piece of the boiled flesh of a healthy horse , accidentally killed , which looked and smelled quite wholesome , and a leg of mutton , plump , firm , and of pure white fat , which was destined for the paupers' dinner in Bermondsey workhouse on the next day . The contrast between the mutton provided by the Board of Guardians for the paupera and that which was offered for sale to the industrious classes was palpable enough .
"At a subsequent meeting , Mr . Fisher and Mr . Pocklington were good enough to bring and exhibit portions of beef and lamb which had been seized , on that day , in Newgate-market . The beef was thoroughly wet and soft ; the lamb , wet , soft , utterly devoid of fat , in the areolar tissue , and within and around the kidney ; pus was found in the areolar tissue of the pelvis by Dr . Gibbon , and the smell of both specimens was incredibly
nauseous . " Your committee have also the evidence of Mr . Fisher , that he often sees meat exposed for sale in the suburbs which he should seize if within his own juris * diction in the City ; and of Dr . Gibbon , who has caused unwholesome meat to be seized in the Holhorn District . " The fact , then , that such meat is habitually offered for sale is indisputable . As to the quantity of it your committee can only refer to a return with which they have been favoured by Mr . Daw , of the City Sewers .-ofh ' ce , showing the quantity seized in the City of London
during the year 1855 . By this it appears that 26 live animals , G 12 entire carcases , G 96 quarters , 8 sides , and 227 joints of beef , mutton , veal , and lamb were seized in that year , besides an immense quantity of poultry , game , and fish , which probably was condemned because putrid . But it must be borne in mind that the City of London is a privileged place , that the inspection of meat and slaughterhouses is there carried on systematically , and that , as Mr . Fiaher declares , much meat which could not bo exposed in tho City , is sold openly in th « suburbs . "
The committee direct attention to tho signs by which diseased meat may be told . These arc : —bad colour , either too dingy or too bright . ; a peculiarly sour and sickening smell ; a wetness , softness , and fiabbiuess ; a curdling uud clotting of the blood ; and " shreds und flakes of white matter in the ltirgpr veins , particularly in the liver . " " Thon , there is a whole set of aigns which show that an animal , boforo being killed , was greatly out of condition ; eucb . as a palo bloodless eye , a paleness of tho
' bark' of sheep , anil unnatural whiteness of the flesh , which arc often seen in uucop which have tho rot . Want of fat , and especially of the auet about the kidneys , in place of which u watery flabby stun"is sometimes found ; wasting of the" fleshy part of the meat , and a watery jelly-liko utate of tho tiasuo which lies between tho muscles , insomuch that , drops of water may run out when it is cut across , arc other decided signs . It is to be remarked , that drovers are said sometimes to strike heavy blows on the oyc to hide tho palo look which arises from
wasting disease . " Again , there aro hoiiio signs of special disease . Thu . s , when cattle have died of pleuropnoumoniu , or lung disease , tlui insidos of tho ril >« will usually be found to bu furred up with u quantity <> '" white cunly tnatter ( pleuritic adhesions ); uud tins samo is found inmde tho llankH when beasts have died of inflammation of tho bowels , la tliouo ciimoh , tho natural smooth glistening Miu-fuco of the muubnuu which lines the riba and ilanka ia lout .
"¦ One thing to be especially looked for is the little bladders among the flesh of pigs , which constitute the disease known as measles ; and similar tilings in tho liver of sheep winch have the not . .... " It is quite certain that very mnch ef this doubtful meat , together with large quantities < of Hast wfeioh is certainly unwholesome , and especially stripped ealve 3 and meaaly pork , is made into sausages , and daily consumed by the public . Your committee have reason to toliexoe that the flesh of horses ( except the tongue ) is not uaefl , certainly not extensively used , for liuman food , sintply because it fetches such a good price as cats' said dogs ' meat .
" Your committee have learned , that most of-the diseased meat supplied to the metropolis is brought from the country , that is to say , that very few diseased animals are brought into or slaughtered in London , but that they are killed in the country by persons who make this a regular business " As for the distribution of this meat , there is no doubt that it is purchased after regular market hours , by tradesmen who retail it to the labouring classes late in the evening , in the suburbs of what are called low neighbourhoods . Much meat is sold by gaslight which could scarcely be exposed in broad daylight . " This diseased meat wastes excessively in cooking ; and therefore , as the committee remark , although less is paid for it , it is in effect dearer .
" There can be no doubt but that the use of diseased meat may be a specific cause of illness . We need scarcely remind you that the eating of measly pork and of ijlcooked animal food in general is notoriously a cause , of tape-worm and of various forms of hydatid that infest the human subject . Instances have come under the notice of Dr . Gibbon , Dr . Challice , and other membecs of the committee , of symptoms of poisoning arising from the use of unsound meat partially cooked . It appears to be almost established that , in most cases , prolonged boiling deprives it of any active poisonous properties ; and it is said that the flesh of glandered horses , after being boiled , can be handled and eaten with impunity ; but roasting and frying are far less efficient means of subjecting flesh thoroughly to the purifying influence of heat .
" We may allude in passing to the over-fed condition in which , cattle are commonly killed at Christmas . Dr . Druitt has seen several instances of illness from eating that kind of meat ; but it is matter of gratification that excessive and unnatural fatness seems now to be less cultivated by breeders of animals . " Your committee may observe that , although it naay be difficult to prove it by actual cases , they have no doubt that unwholesome meat is one cause among many of the debility and cachexies , the poverty of blood , and intractable maladies of the poor who flock to the dispensaries and parochial medical officers ; and especially of diarrhoea during hot weather . "
Having pointed out the various Aets of Parliament passed against the sale of diseased meat , the committee conclude by recommending " that the several inspectors of nuisances , appointed under the Metropolis Local Management Act , be empowered to aet as sanitary inspectors under the Nuisances Removal Act for England , 1855 , and , if necessary , that they also receive authority from two justices , " under the act 19 th and 20 th Victoria , chap . 131 . "
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ACCIDENTS AND SUDDEN DEATHS . A DJ 58 KBXKR from the 8 th Hussars has lost his life in a daring attempt to escape from a railway carriage . His was in the custody of two soldiers of the regu »« tit , oad was being conveyed by the « xpjrosa train from Birmingham to York . When betwoeu Burtou-an-Treat and Barton station , he leaped , handcuffed as he was , through the window of the carriage . Tbo stepi of tho succeeding carriage caught him in its piagress and . inflicted auefe sorioua injuries as to cause- deaLh shortly afteriwttrds .- ~ r Mr . Edward Moxon , goods manager of the Eaet Lancashire KaUway , lias boen killed ou the line . In company with another gentleman ( says a lucal papor ) he was going on an eugino tu his residence , Jlonudcu Hall , near
KataliiE Seeing another engine coming up the line in an opposite direct ion , Mr . M > oxon became afraid of a collision , jumped off the engine , and broke his leg . The other goutleman and engine-drivers , although there was a slight collision , remained upon the engine , aj * d oacuped uninjured . Mr . Moxon waa immudiately removed homo , when medical aid waa called >« auri © very at tout ion was paid him ; but ho grow worse , asd died from the effects of lock-jaw , brought on by the in ~ juries . — -Inquests have boeu hold by Mr . llorford , corona for Manchester , on two men . James Aiidenson , the guard of a ballast wamron on the Manchester and 3 ucfhol <* i
Hallway , was with a train of ballast waggona on un ncline betwoon Iladliold and Dinting Valo , when the throa last wnggonu broke looso , in consequence of the cottar slipping out of the coupling chain . The waggons bogan to ruu backwards , Anderson boing on the one noarcst the other part of the train . Ho tiigiiullud the driver to l > auk after the Ioomo waggons , which was done , and ho was in the act of ri-faateniii tf the two jmvta of tlui train when ho fell oil" and got , under the wheels . Hi * ' ' ' 1 ( 'tf waa cut . oil ' , and he died at tho Manchester liilinnury the samo night . TIks other inquest wan on tho body of
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• Aa ** m 30 , 1856 . ] THE I . BAPBB . 819
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Aug. 30, 1856, page 819, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2156/page/3/
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