PUBLIC ABATTOIRS AND THE PREVENTIOX OF 



TUBERCULOSIS. 



By HON. W. F. TAYLOR, M.D., M.L.C , D.P.H. 



Read before the Roi/aJ Societtj of Queensland , Deceiuher 16, 7899. 



I PROPOSE to show this evening, as briefly as possible, what 

 effect public abattoirs should have in checking the spread of 

 disease caused by the tubercle bacillus. Tuberculosis, in its 

 different manifestations is all too common among us, and it 

 becomes the duty of everyone in a position to do so, to point 

 out, if not from his own particular experience, from that of 

 others, by what means the disease may be arrested, and its 

 ravages mitigated. We have had the subject of tuberculosis 

 prominently brought before us at a recent public meeting held 

 for the purpose of forming a society to cope with the disease in 

 the human being, and a few days ago many of us were 

 privileged to hear a lecture, with lantern-slide illustrations, on 

 the tubercle bacillus, by Mr. Pond, so that the subject 

 has of late been tolerably well ventilated. As you are 

 doubtless aware an Act was passed last session — " The 

 Slaughtering Act of 1898," giving the Government power to 

 construct public abattoirs where it was found to be necessary. 

 Section 7 provides that — " The Minister may, out of any 

 moneys appropriated by Parliament for the purpose, establish, 

 maintain, and manage such, and so many public abattoirs as 

 are, in his opinion, necessary for slaughtering stock, and may 

 permit the use of the same by all persons upon payment of the 

 fees and observing the conditions prescribed by the regulations." 

 It is not sought by this Section to compel all those engaged in 



