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142
of whose carcass tubercles have been discovered
at the time of slaughtering is one of great
moment, and involves serious risks to the public
health. I feel, therefore, impelled to refer to it
specifically for the reason that of late there has
been a tendency for veterinary surgeons, or their
subordinates, to certify that unless the whole
mass of muscular tissue shows signs of degeneration,
the meat may be eaten with impunity if
properly cooked.
The advocates for the sale of meat so diseased
attempt to justify their position by the convenient
theory of what they call "localised
tuberculosis," a proposition based upon the
inexcusable ignorance of the elementary principles
of physiological induction.
No competent pathologist would dare to assert
that when pathogenic micro-organisms have once
entered the body of an animal, one part of its
anatomy (the muscles) is free from infection,
and another part (the viscera) infected: the
force of absurdity can go no further than this ! !