LICKED BEEF. XIX 



part of the loss caused by warble-attack : in the words of Mr, R. 

 Stratton, of the Duffryn, Newport, Monmouthshire, to whom I have 

 from the beginning of our worlc been greatly indebted for co-operation, 

 "it is as pennies to sovereigns" compared to the loss on the animals. 



Licked Beef. 



Warble-attack, when severe to an extent often found to be the 

 case, causes inflammation, and consequently very evident alteration 

 in the state of the tissues immediately beneath the warbled part of 

 the hide. 



This condition, known as "licked beef" or "jelly," has long 

 been only too well known to all connected with dressing cattle after 

 slaughter, but the nature and precise cause of the condition was, as 

 far as I am aware, not known. And in the year 1889 we were enabled, 

 through post mortem examinations, to obtain clear proof of connection 

 between presence of inflammation seriously injurious to condition of 

 the animal and presence of warble in the overlying part of the hide.* 



In the investigation I was greatly indebted for assistance to Prof. 

 John Penberthy, of the Royal Veterinary College, Camden Town, 

 N.W. ; to Mr. Henry Thompson, M.R.C.V.S., of Aspatria, Cumber- 

 land, who has long devoted much attention to warble-treatment ; and 

 also to Mr. John Child, Managing Secretary of the Leeds and District 

 Hide, Skin, &c.. Company. 



The reasons for the name of " licked beef " being applied to the altered 

 condition, and a description of this altered state, is given in the 

 following observations, with which I was favoured in reply to my 

 enquiries by Mr. Henry Thompson, M.R.C.V.S., Aspatria, Cumber- 

 land : — 



"With reference to what you call 'licked beef,' I suppose you 

 mean that portion of the back (sirloin) where the warbles are generally 

 most numerous, and, when ready to leave their quarters, cause so 

 much irritation that the cow licks them with her rough tongue, and 

 assists in their removal, and is thus thought by many to damage the 

 flesh underneath ; hence the name, 'licked beef.' But I cannot see 



* The reader will please observe that in these notes I am entirely limiting 

 myself to observation of the nature of the mischief caused by warble-presence. 

 Inflammation may be caused by injury to the animal, or local disease, or it is 

 considered sometimes to arise from too-high keep given to push on the condition of 

 the animal rapidly ; but the great cause of the alteration under consideration is 

 warble-presence, therefore I have only given the results of examination of speci- 

 mens where we had the warble-presence in connection. The mischief itself and 

 its origin from warbles we have ample evidence of for many years back ; but the 

 point especially asked for was to learn what this changed state was, anatomically 

 considered. — E. A. 0. 



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