498 
TWENTY-SEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING 
late issue of the North American Review there is an interesting 
article on the longevity of Americans living in the central portion of 
the United States and it appears that it is greater there than in 
any part of the world to-day. That in a great measure is due to 
the character of the food eaten by the inhabitants. They are 
more particular as to the quality of the meat and the fruit they 
consume and consequently they are freer from those diseases 
which lessen the longevity of the race. 
While we have not actually found the germs of actinomykosis, 
though considerable microscopic work has been done here, yet we 
have found them in most of the internal organs, and lung, liver 
and intestines, quite a considerable distance from the digestive 
tract. There is no question in our opinion but what it is diseased 
meat and while I do not know positively that it does not exist in 
the muscles or the red flesh that is eaten as lean beef, the safest 
way is to guard against any possible contamination from that 
source by condemning it on general principles as diseased meat. 
Dr. Faust: I think the Jewish people give us a fine illustration, 
looking at them as a race from beginning to end. Would a Jew 
eat a piece of meat affected with actinomykosis ? (Cries of yes ! 
yes.) 
Now then, as far as tuberculosis goes, does he eat that? I 
think not. 1 think the gentleman that just spoke expressed the 
true sentiment that we should keep away from danger and con¬ 
demn it as unfit, destroying everything that is diseased. We have 
plenty of good meat in this country and don’t want to eat diseased 
meat. If we should ever come to that point when, owing to a 
dense population we are obliged to eat diseased meat, we can then 
consider how injurious it will be. 
Dr. Williams : This question is of great importance and it has 
been difficult for me to keep still. We wish to further discuss 
this subject and therefore I move that the discussion be now closed, 
but that a committee of three be appointed by the Chair to con¬ 
sider the subject of actinomykosis and tuberculosis, which commit¬ 
tee shall submit a report at the next meeting of this Association. 
Dr. Clement: I would amend that motion by adding that the 
committee also consider the subject of meat inspection. 
