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39
Of the total, 228 were seized on account of tuberculosis,
1 was dropsical,
3 were affected with abscesses,
3 carcases and 2 pieces were putrid,
1 was an illegal importation inasmuch as the glands about the neck
and throat had been removed. It was destroyed at the request of the consignees, in
order to avoid the expense of re-exporting it.
128 were from Holland.
10 „ „ Belgium.
97 ,, „ Argentina.
1 carcase and 2 pieces were from New York.
The weight was 11 tons 6 cwts. 1 qr. 27 lbs.
One of your Food Inspectors, while examining a consignment of 323 pig-carcases
from Argentina, which arrived on the 10th November, found three of the carcases
covered with a profuse rash.
Specimens of the skin taken from the carcases were submitted to Dr. H. B. Newham,
Director of the London School of Tropical Medicine, who reported as follows :—
"Received 16th November, 1914, several pieces of pig skin taken from the face
of a pig's carcase, and presenting a number of small round nodules projecting on the
surface.
" On examining the skin it is seen to be studded with numerous whitish nodules
varying in size from that of a mustard seed to that of a small pea, and closely
resembling acne pustules. In some portions of the skin, especially that taken from
just below the eye, these nodules were very thickly set indeed.
" The individual nodules were in some cases urnbilicated.
" On opening the nodules they were seen to contain a thick sebaceous material.
Some of this was transferred to a slide and teased up with a little saline solution. On
examining this with a microscope there were seen very numerous parasites of the
family Demodicidse, mixed with a certain amount of sebaceous material.
" By suitable treatment it was found possible to abstract the sebaceous material
and so get the Demodicidse free.
" It was then seen that the parasites were of three kinds—males, females, larvae,
all of which were found lying together in one and the same nodule.
" The males are provided with eight short legs, a mouth apparatus and an
annulated abdomen, and measure some 205w. in length, 60w. in breadth.