TUBERCULOSIS. 403 



Improvement in the hygienic surroundings of animals should include 

 isolation of all suspected cases, precautions against the flesh or milk of 

 diseased animals being given as food to others e.g., to pigs, fowls, etc. 

 and care that fodder, litter, and water should not be taken from one 

 animal or stall and given to another. 



Our attention has been drawn to the frequency with which animals, 

 obviously diseased, sometimes even in the last stage of the malady, are 

 sold in open market. 



Although in England and Ireland, under the provisions of the 

 Nuisances Removal Act as embodied in the Public Health Act, 1885, 

 the medical officer of health or inspector of nuisances may seize such 

 animals, yet such seizure is rarely performed. 



We find the veterinary inspector has no power to prevent such sales, 

 or to seize the beasts for slaughter, since tuberculosis is not included in 

 the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Act of 1878. 



We further find that there is actually a regular trade in such stock 

 infected with tuberculosis, and that they go by the name of " wasters " 

 and " mincers," being frequently slaughtered in the neighbourhood of the 

 larger towns, to which such portions of the meat as are likely to escape 

 the observation of the inspector of nuisances are sent, for the purposes 

 of sale among the poorer inhabitants, and especially for the making of 

 sausages. 



We are, therefore, very strongly of opinion that power should be given 

 to the veterinary inspector to seize all such animals in fairs, markets, or 

 in transit. 



Notwithstanding the uniform prevalence of the disease in Europe and 

 elsewhere, there seems to be no reason to apprehend that, with our 

 present regulations for the slaughter of animals at the port of debarka- 

 tion, and for quarantine of those imported for breeding, there is any 

 special danger of increasing the infection in England by introduction 

 from abroad. The danger, however, exists in regard to the stock brought 

 from countries, which are exempt from slaughter on landing, and sub- 

 jected to the ordinary veterinary inspection during the present period of 

 detention of twelve hours. 



It is, therefore, evident that the present rules for the prevention of 

 the introduction of disease into the United Kingdom from abroad, are 

 incomplete. 



Since all authorities are agreed that the disease is very marked by 

 heredity, we think it highly desirable that breeders should in their own, 

 as well as in the public interest, discontinue breeding from tuberculous 

 stock. 



B. Extirpation. 



In order to insure the gradual extirpation of tuberculosis, we are of 

 opinion that it should be included in the Contagious Diseases (Animals) 

 Acts for the purposes of certain sections of those Acts, so as to provide : 



(a) For the slaughter of diseased animals, when found diseased on 

 the owner's premises. 



