MUNICIPAL HYGIENE 667 



ined ; the presence of blood in the larger vessels and decided 

 discoloration of the muscular tissue, might mean the 

 animal had died a natural death, or had only been killed at 

 the point of death. Bruising of the surface of the body 

 from the recumbent posture may be present, or evidence 

 on the sternum and quarters of bruised tissue having been 

 removed. 



The smell of such flesh should be carefully noted for 

 evidence of medicine, or signs of approaching decomposition 

 or sourness. The best place to see muscular changes is 

 between the ribs ; discoloration of the abdominal muscles 

 would be evidence that the butcher had been called in late. 

 The condition of the flesh of a healthy animal slaughtered 

 ' in the ordinary way, is best told after rigor mortis has set 

 in. A freshly cut surface should be examined ; healthy 

 muscle is red, brighter in the young animal, darker in the 

 old; the flesh is firm to the feel and not soft or sticky. 

 There should be no blood in the larger vessels if bleeding has 

 been properly conducted. The grain of the meat should be 

 fine, it becomes coarser with age, and is markedly so in the 

 cow and bull. A due proportion of fat should surround 

 the muscles of the body, but none is seen in the muscles 

 below the elbow or stifle. 



The muscles of an animal which has been killed before 

 recovering from the fatigue of a journey are darker in 

 colour, sticky to the touch, the flesh ' sets ' and keeps badly, 

 and the meat is tough and difficult to digest. 



Paleness of the muscular tissue indicates poverty; a 

 gelatinous exudate between the muscles, taking the place 

 of the normal fat, is suggestive of advanced emaciation. 



The smell of the flesh of the bovine should be sweet, 

 free from all taint or mustiness. The flesh of the bull 

 has a distinctive smell, is coarse, stringy, and darker in 

 colour. 



The muscles of an old cow are darker coloured and 

 stringy, partaking more of the characteristic features of 

 those of the bull. In the calf they are pale, and in very 

 young animals, such as a foetus, both very pale and watery. 



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