Meat and its inspection : a practical guide for meat inspectors, students, and medical officers of health / by Arthur R. Litteljohn.

Date:
1911
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Meat and its inspection : a practical guide for meat inspectors, students, and medical officers of health / by Arthur R. Litteljohn. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    dripping from the vulva. She probably will have a temperature of 104° to 105° F. If slaughtered, however, and the carcase dressed before inspection, the uterus will have been thrown away, and the carcase will frequently escape seizure, in spite of the ' fevered flesh.' Yet the meat of an animal such as this, has repeatedly been held responsible for outbreaks of poisoning and death (see Meat-Poisoning—Intoxication). Apart from febrile conditions, one may see living animals obviously unfit for human food, the meat of which after slaughter and dressing of the carcase may be sufficiently presentable to pass an unsuspecting inspector. For example, old ewes that are no longer of any value for breeding purposes, and have developed signs of dropsy, are sent to market. When seen there, they are found to be hide-bound, scraggy-looking beasts, with pendulous bellies frequently containing fluid. At the time of slaughter the carcase is dripping wet and the flesh water-logged ; but by means of ' blowing ' and hanging the carcase much of the water escapes, and the carcase may thus avoid seizure. Apart from the benefits to the consumer, inspection prior to slaughter has other advantages. To some extent it protects butchers and slaughtermen from the risk of contracting anthrax and other inoculable disease. It also enables the slaughtering of animals suffering from a transient complaint, to be postponed for a few days, thereby avoiding total seizure of the carcase, which might other- wise be ordered. Animals suffering from a febrile condi- tion, exhaustion from travelling, or recent parturition, bleed badly and make inferior and often repulsive meat, which decomposes unusually rapidly (often six to twelve hours after slaughter). Again, it is often of benefit to postpone the slaughter of animals that have recently received bruises, or are suffering from recent hemorrhages, septic wounds, or traumatic emphysema. Animals that are dull and refuse their food as a result of exhaustion from travelling will usually be found to recover their normal condition, and be in a fit condition for