DISEASED MEAT AS FOOD FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. 131 
' membrane, in the lungs and affecting the bone, giving it a 
honeycombed appearance. Its presence in the lungs can be 
easily distinguished from that of tuberculosis by microscopic 
examination. This disease also affects human beings, and 
here it is a most serious malady on account of its prolonged 
and painful character, and because it generally terminates 
fatally. Here again it is easily recognized microscopically 
by the presence of its specific organism, and by this means 
we have the proof of its distribution among human beings. 
Of course while yet but little was known of this disease 
we heard of very few cases of its appearance in human beings, 
but now every once in a while we see cases reported in medi¬ 
cal journals and published reports. As to the nature of its 
communication, quoting from Dr. Fleming’s work on Actin¬ 
omycosis, he says: “ As to the manner in which, and the 
channel by which, the fungus invades the tissues, there is no 
satisfactory evidence. It is, however, extremely probable 
that it enters in the form of spores, through a wound, abra¬ 
sion, fissure, or even by means of the delicate mucous folli¬ 
cles of the membrane lining the lips, mouth, pharynx and 
nostrils, in fact any part of the digestive or respiratory tract.” 
Dr. Klein speaks of two cases of actinomycosis of the 
bowels in man, associated with severe suppuration from the 
bowels, and what is more probable than to suggest that these 
were caused by consumption of flesh derived from animals 
affected with actinomycosis. I have known of cases of this 
in cattle, which showed symptoms of the disease so plainly, 
accompanied by so much emaciation, so as to make them 
unfit for shipping to stock yards, being bought by men who 
claimed they used them for the hides and tallow. As for 
tallow there was not enough in them to grease a wagon, and 
if the hides were worth the price paid for the animal it 
would pay to sell hides. What then was done with them ? 
More than likely they were slaughtered and dressed and 
sold for human food among the poorer classes in our mining 
towns. That this should be prohibited goes without saying. 
Another specific disease of cattle is foot and mouth dis¬ 
ease ; one dependant on a specific microbe for its origin, and 
