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In actual work no friction has been found to arise, and by the mutual
interchange of opinions as to what is considered unfit for food in their
countries and in our markets, a considerable amount of useful knowledge is
obtained. During the latter part of this year the Netherlands Government
sent to Smithfield Dr. Berger, one of their veterinary inspectors, in order that
he might ascertain exactly what was considered suitable or unsuitable for our
markets. He fully understood the practical, in addition to the scientific, part
of his duties, and by an interchange of opinions on pathological subjects,
difficulties were cleared away. He returned to Holland at the end of the
year, and we expect to note good results from his visit.
All the meat imported from Holland arrives in the markets without being
subjected to inspection at the docks, and during the latter part of the year,
by an arrangement made between Dr. Williams and yourself, meat from Sweden
is received on similar terms, viz.:—
(1) That the whole of the consignments shall come to the Central
Markets;
(2) That the consignees give notice when the vessel arrives with
quantities of meat;
(3) That the meat shall not be dealt with until inspected.
I append a table shewing the number of cases of tuberculosis observed
within the markets. Regarding this disease in pig carcases, many cases
showed lesions in one or more than one lymphatic gland in the head, without
the slightest evidence of the disease elsewhere. This matter has been given a
considerable amount of attention during the year, carcases with apparently only
the lymph glands of the head affected have been chopped down, the bones of the
vertebræ and sternum, the serous membranes, the kidneys and all the lymph
glands throughout the body most carefully examined without any macroscopical
evidence of the disease being found. The lymph glands of these carcases
were examined by smear and section preparations with negative results.
From information supplied to me it appears that in many of the large
provincial towns, e.g., Glasgow, Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Cardiff, &c.,
also in Continental towns, the method of dealing with such carcases is to cut
off the head and pass the carcase. In some of the German States tuberculosis
of the pig is dealt with on a similar method to that adopted in the inspection
of bovine animals.
That the prevalence of the disease in pigs can be reduced by care in feeding
is shown by an interesting experiment conducted in New Zealand, vide
Annual Report, Department of Agriculture, New Zealand, 1909.