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those which show a reaction may not be sold except for slaughter,
which must take place within a year. If any of these animals show
clinical signs of the disease, the Prefect is to order them to be slaughtered.
Compensation to the extent of one quarter of the value of the
meat seized would be paid when the animal is tilled on the order of
the Prefect, and one half when slaughtered within the year without
showing clinical symptoms, but having reacted to the test. No
compensation would be paid for meat condemned under any other
conditions.
The proposed Bill, the fate of which is unknown,
did not go far enough. The test should be applied
to all animals, and should be repeated at intervals
in the case of cows kept in town sheds.
The Royal Commission arrived at the conclusion
that tuberculosis could be, and is transmitted
through meat, but they thought that "provided
every part that is the seat of tuberculosis be avoided
and destroyed," and "provided every care be taken
to save from contamination .... the actual meat
substance of a tuberculous animal," much of the
meat from this source could be used without risk.
What does this mean? in a previous paragraph
it is stated bv the Commission that the disease
affects "organs, membranes, and glands"; so that
to "avoid and destroy" the tuberculous parts, these
organs, etc., must be "dissected" out. This cannot
be done without interfering with the ordinary
method of cutting up joints for the market—if such
joints would be possible at all. The glands, i.e.,
lymphatic glands, are perhaps the commonest seat
of the disease. Such glands are scattered all over