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measure, no doubt, this may be attributed to the operation of the
Importation of Carcases (Prohibition) Orders, and to the high
market prices which imported meat realised during certain periods
of the year.
Of the 20,979 animals examined post-mortem, 2,220, or 10.5
per cent. were found to be affected with some form of disease. It
may be noted that this percentage is constant with that of last
year.
Bovines account for 2,500 of the animals inspected, of which
839 or 33.4 per cent. were tubercular, and 317 or 12.6 per cent.
were affected with some other disease: Swine, 8,352, of which
542 or 6.4 per cent. were tuberculous, and 236 or 2.8 per cent. were
affected with some other disease; and Ovines, 10.119, of which
286 or 2.8 per cent. were diseased.
It is of interest to note that the percentage of tuberculosis
in cattle has increased, as compared with 1926, from 25.7 per
cent. to 33.4 per cent., whilst in swine the ligures are 3.2 per cent.
for 1926, and 6.4 per cent. for 1927.
Detailed information is given in Appendix I. as to the number
and percentage of animals diseased, and in Appendices II.,
III. and IV. will be found particulars of the meat condemned
and the diseases which rendered it unsound, while the total'
quantity of meat found to be unfit for human food is shown in
Appendix V.
All the meat which was found necessary to be condemned
was voluntarily surrendered.
Condemned Meat.
The practice adopted of condemned meat being rendered
useless for human consumption by means of a dye or strong disinfectant,
has been continued. Some of this meat is subsequently
returned under supervision for industrial purposes.
Tuberculosis.
The deposition of tuberculous lesions observed during postmortem
examinations is detailed in Appendices VI. and VII.
The presence of any degree of tuberculosis in a carcase necessitates
a special examination to determine the extent of the
infection.
Times of Slaughtering.
No limit is placed upon the times at which slaughtering may
take place in the Borough, and as a result the work of inspection
has to be continued to a late hour and by artificial light, which
is most undesirable.
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