1906.] Report on Tuberculosis in Pigs. 



747 



A report has recently been presented by Dr. G. S. Buchanan 



to the Local Government Board on administration in London 



with regard to meat of pigs affected by 



Report on tuberculosis. 

 Tuberculosis in ™ , . r . 



Pig's in London. object of this inquiry was to ascertain 



what data were available regarding the 

 existence of tuberculosis in pigs the meat of which is sold in 

 London as fresh pork or used in various preparations of pork ; 

 what action is at present taken by the public authorities con- 

 cerned and by their officers for the detection of tuberculosis in 

 the carcases or viscera of such pigs ; to what extent such action 

 may be relied upon for the detection of tuberculosis in the pig 

 either by examination at the place of slaughter or by subsequent 

 examination of the dressed carcase ; and what practice, as regards 

 condemnation, official " seizure," and prosecution of offenders is 

 adopted by the different authorities concerned when dealing 

 with meat derived from pigs which have been affected by 

 tuberculosis. 



The report deals with the prevalence, causation, and prevention 

 of tuberculosis in pigs ; the appearances and detection of tuber- 

 culous lesions in pigs ; the use for food of meat from tuberculous 

 pigs ; the origin of pigs whose meat is sold in London as fresh 

 pork or used in various preparations of pork ; and the method of 

 meat inspection in London, together with some account of the 

 official inspection to which pigs are subject in Holland, 

 Denmark, United States, and elsewhere. 



The information thus brought together indicates as regards 

 London the incompleteness and lack of uniformity in the 

 measures adopted by public authorities to control or prevent 

 the importation, sale, or use for manufacture of meat of 

 tuberculous pigs. 



Dr. Buchanan points out that the need for greater uniformity 

 is appreciated by those engaged in the pork trade, whether 

 farmers, middlemen, or retail butchers, and has been insisted 

 upon in representations made on behalf of the trade to Govern- 

 ment Departments and local authorities. Underlying these 

 representations, however, there has often been a more or less 

 tacit assumption that the risk to man arising from eating the 

 meat of pigs which have been affected by tuberculosis is 



