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have always been prepared to assist to the utmost of our powers in elucidating any new
problems which come under observation, we are of opinion that when once the position has
been clearly defined, the work of sorting and of preventing unsound food reaching this
country should be the primary duty of the exporting firms. The responsibilities of your
own staff should be restored as soon as possible to normal conditions, which are to insure
that all foodstuffs on arrival are sound, free from disease, and fit for human consumption.
(4) The observation that a large percentage of the tongues are affected with
actinomycosis in the glands alone, and unless these glands remain attached to the roots of
the tongues, it will be impossible in such cases to state whether the tongues have come
from animals infected with actinomycosis.
We, therefore, feel strongly that Regulations should be framed rendering the
importation of tongues without the roots and glands attached liable to re-exportation.
(5) The question of Actinomycosis as affecting cattle, and even the prevalence of the
disease in general, does not appear to us, after a review of the literature on the subject, to
have been adequately investigated, and we beg respectfully to suggest that it is a matter
on which further research work might be undertaken with advantage.
The total numbers examined are set out in the Veterinary Surgeon's report on
page 91.
The question of Actinomycosis, as affecting both human beings and bovines is one
of considerable interest, and to my knowledge much research work is being carried
out in various laboratories, and, doubtless, at no distant date, the scientific
literature dealing with this problem will receive various contributions of value.
ORANGE STREAKS IN BEEF SUET.
It has long been observed by your Meat Inspectors, and your Veterinary Surgeon
had already taken action in respect of the matter, that the kidney and mesenteric fat
of certain of the best fed animals was streaked with lines of orange colour. This has
been observed both in home-killed and imported meat.
Although as will be seen shortly, the condition is not one which renders the
consumption of fat so affected unfit for human food, it occasionally happens that the
streaking is so prouounced as to render it unsaleable by reason of its appearance alone.
The condition has been described as being due to fatty dissociation, but it was
thought desirable that a limited inquiry should be made in respect of the fat, and in
consequence several specimens were forwarded to the City Bacteriologist, Dr. Andrewes,
for report.
In respect of the last specimen forwarded, he states:—
It showed very distinct orange veining. The yellow areas examined microscopically
in weak caustic potash, after the removal of the fat with ether, showed no yeasts, bacteria,
or any other organisms. Cultures taken with aseptic precautions from the yellow areas
remained sterile after four days incubation at 20° Centigrade.
From these facts it is clear that the condition was not due to growths of yeasts in
Cold Storage, and the change must be due to some physiological cause.
I have established the following facts. The change appears to occur along the small
blood vessels, which accounts for its veined appearance. The fat in the affected areas ig
largely split up, with formation of abundant needle-shaped crystals of fatty acids. These
do not stain with iodine and are hence a saturated fatty acid, probably stearic acid. Such a
change must be brought about by a fat-splitting ferment, which from the distribution of