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64
But, unfortunately, they are only likely to acquire the knowledge
which will save them from the direct positive loss which open
tuberculosis in their herds entails, when it is brought home to them by
a personal experience which an intelligent anticipation would avoid.
TUBERCULOUS MEAT.
As far back as the middle of 1908, a butcher in the district was
suspcctod of carrying 011 the trade on other than legitimate lines. This
suspicion was subsequently confirmed by a working butcher, who called
at the office and affirmed that a man living at Stanmore (a knacker)
was supplying the local butcher with the meat of diseased cattle, or of
animals killed "to save them from dying."
Instructions were given that the shop of the butcher in question
should be kept under strict observation, and from time to time freshly
killed beef was seen hanging up, but already cut up into small joints,
rendering detection very difficult, and in fact, destroying whatever
evidence of disease may have been present.
The shop was entered 011 many occasions, but without discovery of
anything justifying seizure. With the view of allaying suspicion,
supervision by the Inspector was withdrawn for a period. On the
Inspector paying a surprise visit to the shop on Sunday morning, the
13th November, 1910, he found in a meat-safe a carcase of beef, cut up
into quarters, and also the head and liver. On examining the head the
pharyngeal glands were found to be extensively affected with
tubercular deposits. The portal glands of the liver were also affected.
The pleura of the left forequarter had been stripped, presumably with
the purpose of destroying evidence of disease. The supra-sternal
glands were enlarged and caseous, and a large tubercular nodule was
found under the second dorsal vertebra. The lungs and other viscera
were absent. Sufficient evidence, however, was present to enable an
opinion to be formed that the disease was that of generalized
tuberculosis.