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50
ONCHOCERCIASIS IN IMPORTED MEAT.
In the beginning of the year it was found that the fore-quarters of frozen
meat arriving from Australia contained round, yellowish masses which were
found to contain a parasitic worm commonly known as Spiroptera Reticulata.
When the first consignment was examined, it was thought that this parasite
existed only on the surface, but a more careful examination of subsequent
consignments revealed the fact that it was also to be found embedded in the
deeper connective tissues, especially on the flanks and briskets.
The practice was adopted of removing the flank or brisket, or both, according
as worms were found in either part, or in both.
The quantity of frozen beef coming from Australia during the past year
has far exceeded that of previous years, and some idea, therefore, may be
formed of the additional work which for some months was placed upon the
inspecting staff of this Authority, when it was realised that practically every
fore-quarter had to be examined, and the affected parts cut away, under
supervision.
It was found possible to allow a certain number of these quarters to
proceed to stores situated within the jurisdiction of the City of London and
the four Metropolitan Boroughs in respect of which an order had been made
by the Local Government Board requiring joint action by the Port of London
Sanitary Authority and the Sanitary Authorities respectively under the
Unsound Food and Foreign Meat Regulations.
This also necessitated a large amount of correspondence, the checking and
tracing of large importations of meat, also the serving of Notices and Certificates
in order to comply with the requirements of the Regulations, the effect
being that when a consignment of beef was allowed to go into one of these
areas, the service of a Notice made the Regulations applicable within those
areas in the same manner as if the beef had been landed within the district of
the Port of London Sanitary Authority.
A meeting of the chief importers concerned with the Australian beef led to
the decision that they would, for the future, have the flanks and briskets cut
off in Australia ; and with regard to those quarters on the way or in the
store, they would also have the flank and brisket cut off and handed over to
the Sanitary Authority for destruction. That this was necessary may be
judged by the fact that on a minute examination by cutting up a number of
flanks and briskets it was found that the percentage of those affected was in
many cases over 80 per cent., and in some cases reached 100 per cent.