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17
persons who engage in the sale and disposal of the flesh of
diseased cattle for human consumption, do not, as a rule, carry on
their business in the unconventional manner one may infer, from a
casual perusal of that document.
In actual practice the procedure is a little more interesting
and intricate.
Animals that are "clearly diseased and presumably unfit for
food," are not invariably placed where they are likely to come under
the eye of the Officer referred to.
They will probably be quietly removed as early in the proceedings
as may be, to a more remote place, say, to a stable quite apart
from and having no connection with the actual dairy premises.
In the country and suburbs an isolated shed in a corner of a
convenient field will be suitable. A slaughterer, not necessarily a
professional butcher is sent for, and if he arrives in time the beast
is killed.
Alive or dead, in either case, the carcase is dressed, the lungs
and other internal organs that contain perhaps the only and certainly
the strongest evidence of the disease, are carefully buried or otherwise
promptly disposed of.
The pleura and lining of the chest may be removed, and the
surfaces that are roughened by this process carefully greased and
rubbed or polished to look alright to the eye.
Any suspicious or diseased glands will be artistically removed
and other parts cut away, and the remaining sound-looking portions
of the carcase sent off to the well-known dealers in this class of meat.
It must not be imagined that the carcase will reach Smithfield,
nor in fact any regularly inspected market. It may be, and often