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90
TUBERCULOSIS IN PIGS.
On the 25th July, the Senior Inspector of Meat reported that he had
discovered in the Central Meat Market the carcasses of thirty pigs, which a
close examination showed to have suffered severely from tubercular disease.
Upon looking over these pigs it was found that the thyroid glands in each
carcass were enlarged and tuberculous, and that in some instances the glands
throughout the animals were more or less similarly affected.
It was ascertained that they were a portion of a consignment of 74 sent to
Smithfield by a dealer who had purchased them in Ipswich Market on the
23rd July. They were slaughtered on his own farm at East Acton on the
24th, and sent by him to London on the following day.
Seventy-two "offals" were also dispatched with them, of which 49 plucks
fats and spleens were condemned, 30 being tubercular and 19 putrid.
These pigs had only been " pitched " in the shops a few minutes before
your Officers detected their condition. The term " detected" is used
advisedly, as before the carcasses were cut up, the nature of the disease was
only apparent to the eye of an expert.
So much importance was attached by the trade to this seizure, that in their
own interest, and with a view of learning the best means of noting the presence
of tuberculosis in pork, a meeting was organised by some of the leading
members to hear an address on the subject five days later, at the Memorial
Hall, Farringdon Street, by Professor Pemberthy, Lecturer on Medicine to
the Royal Veterinary College, at whose request I sent portions of the glands,
lungs, &c., of the condemned pigs for exhibition.
The Chairman, in his opening remarks, made the following observations :—
" Those meats (the pigs in question), I must admit, would have passed
"muster with a very large number of us without being in any way judged
" unsound, and it would require a most expert man to detect it. I say this,
" because we ought to let it be known that we have in the Meat Market men
" who really know their business—men who have been placed there by the
" Authorities—and it is really a safeguard to the many millions of London to
" know that the thousands of tons of meat that pass through that Market are
" looked after by such men as Mr. Down, who is so expert that he can detect
" disease at the first glance."
Professor Pemberthy, in speaking of the question of meat inspection,
stated :—
" I was extremely glad to hear our Chairman say that there was so little
" cause for complaint in the Metropolis. It is my candid opinion that where
" the inspection is guided by education and intelligence and uniformity with
" the trade, there is nothing to fear, and the public might be perfectly secure
" about being protected."