282 WHAT CONSTITUTES UNWHOLESOMENESS IN MEAT? 
of ill consequences from eating the meat, though we should 
not choose such meat knowingly. Secondly, during the 
height of the disease, when the inflamed part is loaded with 
exudations, which have a tendency to decompose even within 
the living body, and when all the muscles are emaciated and 
wet from serous effusion; at this time the use of the flesh 
would be disgusting. But supposing that the animal 
recovers, that the exudations are absorbed, leaving only the 
solid parts in the form of common adhesions, and that the 
universal muscular system recovers tone, colour, and plump¬ 
ness ; shall the flesh be condemned on the ground of the 
pleural adhesions, the vestiges of past and cured disease? 
So Dr. Letheby seems to think, if we may judge from the 
police reports. The carcase of a sheep was seized on the 
ground that it “ had suffered ” (we quote from the Times of 
the 3rd instant) “ from the lung disease, as was evident from 
the outer membrane of the lung having adhered to the inside 
of the carcase, which rendered it unfit for food. 
“ Dr. Letheby , the medical officer, said that a sheep afflicted 
with lung disease would be affected throughout the whole 
body, so as to render it unfit for human food, and even dan¬ 
gerous to the consumers of such meat as food. Meat would 
be equally unfit for food if the animal had been overdriven 
so as produce inflammation. 
“ Several salesmen of great experience were called for the 
defence, who stated that a large number of sheep that come 
to market were affected in the same way as far as the appear¬ 
ance of the lungs adhering to the carcase went, and that the 
meat was none the worse for it. The inspectors admitted 
such to be the fact, but added that in such instances the 
disease had not reached the same advanced stage. At this 
point of the case the carcase of the sheep was produced in 
court, and astonished every one by the wholesome appearance 
of the meat. A shoulder of the sheep was cut off and 
passed up to the bench for the magistrates’ inspection, upon 
which Alderman Humphrey said the meat appeared good 
enough, and he should not object to eat it had it been placed 
before him; and he thought if all meat as bad as that were 
seized, half the meat that came to market would have to be 
condemned. 
cc Alderman Finnis said he certainly could see nothing 
amiss with the joint before him, or with the external appear¬ 
ance of the carcase generally. 
“Dr. Letheby , when asked to point out the indications of 
disease in the shoulder, said he could not do that, as that 
was the part which was not affected by the disease. 
