EUMINANTIA 331 



sity of removing slaughter-houses far away from densely popu- 

 lated localities. 



Notwithstanding the above statement, there is little or no 

 danger to be apprehended from the consumption of the flesh of 

 rot-affected animals. On this vexed question we have the 

 strong testimony of the late Dr Rowe, of Australia, who, after 

 leaving the medical profession, became a large and successful 

 stockowner, and devoted himself especially to this question. 

 Dr Howe, writing from the Goulburn district, said : The mere 

 presence of flukes in the viscera of an animal is no proof that it 

 is unfit for human food. For inspectors of slaughter-houses to 

 adopt such a test of wholesome food would be the greatest 

 mistake. It would afford no protection to the public against 

 unhealthy food, would increase the price of animals, and be 

 ruinous to our farmers and graziers. If the consumption of 

 flukey beef and mutton were prejudicial to the health . of man, 

 there would be very few people alive in this part of the colony; 

 for, to my certain knowledge, they have had no other animal 

 food to live upon for the last twenty-five years, yet for physical 

 ability I believe they may be favorably compared with the 

 inhabitants of any other part of Australia." Speaking of his 

 own experiences, Dr Howe avers that he found the common 

 liver fluke in sheep, cattle, goats, opossums, kangaroos, geese, 

 ducks, and other creatures, but he had never encountered it in 

 men, dogs, or pigs. On the whole I think we may agree with 

 Dr Rowe, in regarding the consumption of the flesh of rot- 

 affected animals as free from danger provided only the meat, be 

 well or even moderately well cooked. It must be borne in 

 mind, however, that an essential objection to its consumption 

 lies in the fact that the watery and otherwise chemically 

 deteriorated flesh is comparatively innutritious. It must also 

 be noted that the meat-supply from fluke-affected animals, as 

 usually sold in the markets, is chiefly derived from animals 

 which have only entered the early stage of the disorder, that is, 

 long before the watery and wasted condition of the muscles 

 has fairly set in. 



Respecting the other trematodes I have to observe that 

 Distoma, lanceolatum not only infests the liver ducts of cattle 

 and sheep, but also the deer tribe. Its larvae are likewise 

 supposed to reside in Planorbis marginatus. Still more common 

 and widespread amongst ruminants is the Amphistoma conicum, 

 occupying the paunch. It has been found in the ox, sheep, 



