Pleuro-pneumonia in cattle : extracts from various authorities as to the fitness of the flesh for food / Metropolitan Board of Works.

  • Metropolitan Board of Works
Date:
1880
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Pleuro-pneumonia in cattle : extracts from various authorities as to the fitness of the flesh for food / Metropolitan Board of Works. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service. The original may be consulted at London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Library & Archives Service.

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    therefore affoote tho whole syBtom of tho animal, including its flesh and milk. 2. That the flesh of animals affected with the disease, except in tho eailiest stages, is known to present unhealthy appearances, 3. That the flesh is specially prone to become putrid, and therefore dangerous as an article of food. 4. That it is not known with certainty at what stage of the disease the flesh first shows signs of infection. 0. That there is no evidence of a scientific character to prove that the flesh of oxen aff'scted with the disease has not produced injurious efi'ects. t). That there is some evidence to show that the flesh when eaten has produced injurious results. 7. That the proposal to sell the flesh at a reduced price, and to make it less prone to putrifaction by careful bleeding is, if carried out calcu- lated seriously to endanger the health of the consumers, especially the poor, and to leave a loophole for the sale of all kinds of diseased flesh. Wo are, therefore of opinion that the flesh of animals which have suflfered from pleuro-pneumonia in any stuge, should not under any circumstances, be permitted to be sold fur human food. Dr. R. Travors, Follow and Professor of Medical Jurisprudence, King and Queen's College of Physician'^, states that in the first stages of pleuro- pneumonia tho flesh may probably be quite harmless if well cooked. J. Eoche, M.D., retired ISurgeou-Major, H.M.I.A., writes strongly in favour of the uso of the flesh of oxen nfFected with pleuro-pneumonia. He insists that the flesh, if well bled, cannot be distinguished microscopically from that of a healthy ox. He considers thai there may be cases in which the flesh is fit for use even if pus were in the lungs. The best test is that the beast has yielded up its blood well, and the next best is that of sight, touch, and smell. The Rev. S. Haughtou, M.D., F.K., and Q.O.P.I., Professor of (ieology, T.C.D.. states— I consider such flesh to be frequently fit food for man. I would judge the fitness or unfitness of such flesh from an examination of the lauscular fibres, without any reference to local symptoms in the lungs. In many fatal diseases the muscular tissues continue unaltered for a long period, and while so, may be safely used for food. Dr. Frederick Pirn considers that the flesh in the second stage of disease is fit for food if properly cooked. This gentleman and Dr. Eoche are the only respondents (out of nearly 350) to the circular, who consider the fiesh of pleuro-pneumonic oxen fit for food in the advanced stage of the disease. The 15 Medical Officers of Health who did not answer in the negative to both queries, vary very much in their opinion as to the stage of tho disease in which the flesh of pleuro-pneumonic oxen becomes unwhole- some food. Dr. Wade, Wakefield, says, in answer to the first query (Is the flesh fit for food in the first stage ?) I do not, excepting in a very early sta-^e. Dr. Davies, Newport, says only in the early stage. Dr. Goldie Leeds, states, in the primary stage. Dr. Dougal, Medical Officer'of Health, Kenning Park, Glasgow; Dr. Osborn, Southampton; and Dr. Batoson. Southwark, London, consider that tho flesh may be used in the early stage of the disease, provided that it does not present an unhealthy appeari.nce. Dr. Lord, llampstead, Middlesex, believes that it may be used if the animal be killed at once, and had previously been healthy, ho considers that in the second stage it should, on no account, he used.
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