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124
Board, at which uniform action on the lines suggested by you was adopted.
The table showing meat destroyed ex Cold Stores gives the results.
Our attention was next directed to Australian hind-quarters of beef; these
were also found infested. In order to ascertain the usual position of the
parasites, quarters of beef were thawed out and carefully dissected. This
showed that, with rare exceptions, the nodules were confined to the region of
the stifle joint, and that they could be excised from the quarter of beef in the
frozen condition with only a little disfigurement of the meat.
Statistics kept as to the numbers of hind-quarters examined show up to
60 per cent. infested. Microscopical examination and experiments were made
by this department in order to ascertain if any of the parasites were alive, or if
the eggs or embryos could be found in the blood or lymph in the tissues
around the nodules, but with negative results.
During this examination anatomical differences between the description of
Onchocera Reticulata as given in text-books and the parasite under consideration
were observed, which caused doubts as to whether it was, as at first
thought to be, O. Reticulata, and these doubts have been confirmed by the
interesting description given by Dr. Leiper of O. Gibsoni.
The amount of extra work entailed in dealing with this meat has severely
taxed the whole of the meat inspection staff, overtime having to be done in
order to cope with it, but the importers rendered every assistance, and were at
all times desirous that no meat of a doubtful character should be exposed
for sale.
From the 17th August until 31st December, 1910, 43,649 forequarters of
beef and 25,429 hind-quarters of beef were dealt with.
The Commonwealth of Australia have taken this matter in hand, and state
that on and after 1st February, 1911, veterinary inspectors will be placed in
charge of meat inspection at all abattoirs, and that all carcases will be carefully
examined, the flanks and briskets will be excised from all forequarters of
beef, also that all hind-quarters will be examined prior to export.
If this is done carefully, as we believe it will be, then large importations of
beef will still arrive from the Commonwealth which, after passing through
the markets (where the results of the inspection in Australia will be checked),
may be purchased by the public with every confidence that it is free from
parasites.
The United States of America and the New Zealand Government have
stationed in England veterinary inspectors who watch the interests of their
respective countries re the class of meat suitable for the markets, and what is
here considered as unfit for food. Dr. Wray represents the United States,
and Mr. Crabb, M.R.C.V.S., represents New Zealand.