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1906] 262
to a multiplicity of circumstances; one reason being that there are fewer animals slaughtered
for the wholesale market than there was previously in Islington, whilst there is no doubt
that the prejudice against foreign meat is dwindling down considerably, not only of that
which is killed at the port of debarkation in this country, but also of the chilled beef which
is imported from the United States of America and the Argentine Republic, and also of
the frozen mutton and lamb (especially the latter) imported from New Zealand. Hut the
most marked reduction is that of the number of cows killed, which has been brought to
nil. This is undoubtedly due to a regular and systematic inspection within the borough,
as you are well aware that the prevalence of disease in cows is considerably in excess of
that in oxen, and therefore the rigid supervision has been the cause of their displacement.
Proof of this will be seen by the amount of diseased carcases and organs condemned
in the former year as compared with the latter, although there has been no relaxation in
the supervision over the animals slaughtered, which have been of excellent quality generally
and remarkably free from disease.
Only five cases of tuberculosis were detected, two of which were in an incipient form
over the lung pleura, whilst in two others the disease was of a localised character, the
remaining case being of a generalised form, necessitating the rejection of the entire carcase
and all organs, which was a somewhat serious loss to the butcher, who had doubtless purchased
it at a full market price without any suspicion of its diseased condition. Other
abnormal conditions found in individual organs or carcases will also be found in the table
below.