376 
THE DAIRIES OF LONDON. 
gently poured clown the nostrils. It will create irritation, 
and set up a new inflammation, when healthy action in the 
membrane will be restored. Of course I always syringe 
pretty freely when I trephine. 
Is 'the disease contagious ? — I am of opinion that this disease 
is not in the least contagious until it has assumed its most 
virulent form, and then it is highly so. Indeed, it then may 
be designated glanders. It was the late Professor Coleman’s 
opinion, that not one case in ten thousand arose from con- 
tagion. It wmuld be well, perhaps, to remember, that 
contagion is the result of actual contact with the virus, and 
infection arises from the inhalation of an atmosphere impreg- 
nated with exhalations from diseased animals, and the duty 
of a veterinary surgeon is to — 
“ Cast round the world an equal eye, and feel for all that live.” 
THE DAIRIES OF LONDON IN CONNECTION 
WITH UNWHOLESOME FOOD. 
By Edward Mayhew, M.R.C.V.S., London. 
There is, at present, a great noise made about the sale of 
diseased meat. The traffic in such an article has been car- 
ried on for years ; yet, till now, nobody seemed to notice the 
notorious fact. 
Officers of health have lately been employed to detect the 
offensive trade. However, what are their precise qualifi- 
cations for the office, which is thrust upon them, I am un- 
informed. Their noses seem to be the organs principally 
employed; though many people may question the necessity 
of a costly medical education to discover a stink. Probably 
persons noa professional could detect unwholesome flesh, 
after it had made an approach to putrefaction. 
The inspectors of markets are generally understood to owe 
their appointments to private interest. Of late, however, 
the slumbers of this order of persons have been broken by an 
unreasonable demand for their activity. Rules have been 
laid down for recognising the beef of an ox that has died of 
disease — the state of the viscera, and of the large serous 
cavities, being alluded to, as decided evidence in this parti- 
cular. Now, every butcher knows that oxen may exhibit 
during life the most perfect health ; nevertheless, after death, 
more than one entire lung may be found adherent to the in- 
