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confined to steers and heifers. As a result of the quality of the animals
purchased over 90% were found free from any disease or abnormal
condition.
For the second year running all the cattle killed were found to be
free from tuberculosis. The pre-war average incidence being 23.7 per
cent in the case of cows and 12.6 per cent in cattle other than cows.
The incidence of tuberculosis in pigs showed an increase, the percentage
infected being 3.03 per cent (1.96 per cent). All the cases found
were localized in the head.
Cysticercus bovis in cattle, the larval stage of the tape worm Taenia
Saginata in man, was isolated in ten carcases, an incidence of 0.87 per
cent (1.42 per cent). The predeliction sites of the cyst are the muscles
of mastication, the heart and diaphragm, all of which receive a routine
examination and if a viable cyst is diagnosed the whole carcase is submitted
to extreme refrigeration before release. Eight carcases were so
treated, the other two being cases where a single cyst had degenerated
to a state of calcification.
It was found necessary to condemn the whole carcases of three pigs
due to (i) Pyrexia; (ii) Septic Pericarditis and Pleurisy; (iii) Septic Pneumonia;
and two calves' carcases were condemned due to (i) Pleurisy and
Oedema; (ii) Pericarditis associated with emaciation. One sheep's carcase
was also condemned due to emaciation and oedema.
The incidence of other diseases necessitating part condemnation
showed little change, being 18.2 per cent (16.5 per cent) in cattle;
11.6 per cent (12.6 per cent) in pigs; 3.6 per cent (5.5 per cent) in sheep,
and 1.6 per cent (one per cent) in calves. In cattle, the organ most
affected is the liver due to liver fluke, or abscesses, as also with sheep,
due to fluke or other parasitic affections. In pigs, however, diseases of
the respiratory system and pleural cavity, affecting the lungs and heart,
are the most common cause of condemnation of the affected organ.
There are no suitable disposal facilities in Harrow, and as in past
years all condemned meat is taken to the Wembley Destructor where
under supervision it is destroyed by incineration.
The following is a summary of the return to the Ministry of the
post mortem examination of the animals in slaughterhouses:—