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274
1913]
These animals genarally were of the highest quality and remarkably free from disease,
only 4 cases of tuberculosis being detected in the 937 bovines slaughtered; in three of these
the disease was of a strictly localised character as shown in the subsequent table. The
remaining case, however, was more serious my attention being called to the liver and other
internal organs of an exceeding good ox, of the value of over £27. I found that the whole
of these organs were the seat of considerable tubercular disease, which was especially
marked in the liver, and in the mesenteric, mediastinal and pharyngeal glands, as well as in
the lungs. This was a most singular case, for although the disease was so well marked in
the organs, not a single superficial lesion was visible on the very well nourished carcase.
On further examination, guided by the condition of the above mentioned organs, considerable
portions of the carcase were also found to be affected, and after the whole carcase had
been cut up and the various deep-seated glands examined by Professor Woolridge of the
Royal Veterinary College (who appeared on behalf of the owner of the carcase through the
London Butcher's Trade Society) and myself, it was decided to submit the whole to your
personal inspection, with the result that considerable portions of the carcase and the whole
of the internal organs were ultimately surrendered for destruction. It is here worthy of note
that in the year 190D (the first complete year in which the records have been kept by a
specially appointed meat inspector), 132 animals were found more or less affected with
tuberculosis, as compared with 4 for the year 1913.
Mention should be made of a strangely diseased ewe sheep to which your inspector's
attention was called. The carcase and organs of the abdominal region were extensively
diseased in a most peculiar form, the leisions in some respects being very similar to those
of tuberculosis, although on a more careful examination of the substance and formation of
the nodules certain well marked differences showed them to have no connection with that
disease.
Owing to the fact that your inspector had never before met with any similar case
during more than 30 years' experience in the slaughterhouse, and after consulting you it was
decided to submit the carcase and organs—which had been surrendered for destruction—for
special examination at the laboratory of the Royal Veterinary College, after obtaining
suitable photographs of its diseased condition.
It is, however, disappointing to know that after a prolonged investigation the College
were unable to make any definite statement as to the nature of the disease although it would
appear that the research had been mainly devoted to an endeavour to find the tubercle
bacillus, with a negative result. Other abnormal cases will be found in table "A" which
follows:—