4 SMITH, ON MKASLED POUK. 



Notes of a Microscopical Examination of "Measled" 

 and other Pork. By William Smith, F.L.S., Professor 

 of Natural History, Queen's College, Cork. 



The subject of the present paper has of late excited much 

 attention in this locality, the trade of the port of Cork and 

 the industry of the neighbouring counties being immediately 

 connected with the produce and export of provisions, a main 

 portion of which consists of cured pork. 



The disease in pigs popularly known as " measles " (though 

 without any resemblance to the complaint bearing the name 

 in the human subject) is one of frequent occurrence in the 

 South of Ireland, and as its presence in the flesh of the 

 animal is usually regarded as detrimental to its value as an 

 article of food, the market-price of the commodity is thereby 

 lowered, and the profits of the producer proportionally 

 diminished. 



Questions connected with the supply of provisions to the 

 Crimean army having called increased attention to this sub- 

 ject, an attempt was lately made by the provision-merchants 

 of Cork to arrive at more certain conclusions respecting the 

 nature and extent of the disease, and its precise influence on 

 the character and condition of the flesh afi'ected by it. 



Having been invited to assist in this research, by reporting 

 on the microscopical appearance of the disease, and the meat 

 affected by it, the following notes of a careful examination of 

 fresh and cured pork, supplied to me, were my contributions 

 to the inquiry : 



The facts noted are not new to science, the subject having 

 attracted the attention of several German, French, and 

 British physiologists, and the results of their investigations 

 being for the most part similar to my own. 



The matter has not, however, been discussed in the ' Micr. 

 Journ.,' and the following record of independent observation, 

 and personal inquiry, may interest the readers of this maga- 

 zine, and possess corroborative value when taken in con- 

 nection with the more important investigations of other 

 naturalists. 



Nineteen specimens were supplied to me, viz. : 



6 of healthy fresh pork from various parts of diff'erent 

 pigs ; 



6 of fresh muscle, "slightly measled;" 



of fresh muscle, "badly measled;" 



1 of cured pork, " badly measled." 



The " measles " are occasioned by the presence of a para- 



