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When the meat is thawed its presence can be easily felt by passing the
fingers over the surface, but it cannot be readily detected when the meat is in
a frozen condition.
As the lesion is confined to certain parts of the carcase, and the thawing of
the whole would involve considerable loss, I arranged to meet the convenience
of the Trade by directing the removal and thawing out of the flanks and
briskets only.
When possible, the parasite was removed with a small portion of the surrounding
tissue, the rest of the meat being passed for food.
In some cases the organisms were so numerous that their removal would
have practically left nothing ; in these the whole of the meat was condemned.
The parasite in question is not found in this country, and appears to be
confined to certain localities in Australia. It has been identified by
Mr. A. E. Shipley, F.R.S., of Cambridge, as the worm described by Neumann
as the Spiroptera reticulata,* and by Leiper as Onchocera reticulata.
TUBERCULOUS MEAT.
RE-ISSUE OF ADVISORY CIRCULAR.
In March, 1903, in view of the gross ignorance prevailing amongst small
farmers and butchers in country districts as to the signs of tuberculosis, both
in live animals and in carcases of animals after slaughtering, a circular letter
on the subject, together with observations thereon by your Medical Officer
and Veterinary Inspector, was largely circulated. Copies of this circular have
been in constant request ever since, and last year the supply was exhausted.
As their distribution has been attended by excellent results, the Sanitary
Committee, upon your Medical Officer's recommendation, sanctioned a reprint
of 4,000, containing as additional information an extract from leaflet No. 100,
published by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries (revised May, 1907),
describing the character of tuberculosis in pigs, giving warnings against feeding
the animals on refuse milk and diseased offal from tuberculous cattle, and
recommending improved sanitation and periodic disinfection of the premises
where pigs are kept, and the disinfection of all empty pens before the
introduction of fresh stock (see Appendix 167).
Copies of this circular were sent to the salesmen in the City markets for
distribution amongst their customers sending meat from country districts, and
to others interested in the matter.
* A treatise on the Parasites and Parasitic Diseases of the Domesticated Animals, Neumann—
Macqueen. Second Edition. Published by Baillifere, Tindall and Cox, London.