37S 
NEWS AND ITEMS. 
animation. * * * There may be a strictly localized tuber¬ 
culosis, consisting, for instance, of an isolated tuberculous 
nodule in the lungs, in the liver, or in some other portion of the 
body. Such nodule would make the particular point infected 
‘ diseased ’ from the standpoint of meat inspection; in the 
opinion of some members of the laity, such nodule would also 
make the entire meat of the animal ‘ diseased ’ and call for the 
condemnation of the entire carcass; from the standpoint of meat 
inspection, the carcass in general would not be ‘ diseased/ and 
there would be no justification in condemning it. 
“ The veterinary inspector, in judging whether a carcass is 
‘ diseased,’ must do so upon the general principles of pathology 
in its relation to the public health, and not upon any precon¬ 
ceived, exaggerated or sentimental idea. 
“ The commission would suggest that the co-operation of the 
public is most valuable in aiding in the suppression of frauds in 
the meat trade, but that it would be well for the public to have 
confidence in the ability of the veterinary inspectors to pass 
judgment upon the purely technical side of the questions in¬ 
volved, since such judgment can be of value only when ex¬ 
pressed by persons especially trained for this purpose. 
“Illustrative of the precautions taken by the Department of 
Agriculture to safeguard the public health, it is the opinion of 
the commission that the Bureau of Animal Industry, acting un¬ 
der the existing regulations, would necessarily condemn certain 
meats which would be allowed, either with or without restric¬ 
tions, according to circumstances, upon the markets of Ger- 
manv, France, England, and other countries.” 
Dr. Melvin states that under the Federal inspection it is 
only when the disease is slight and localized or circumscribed 
that the unaffected portions of the carcass are passed for food. 
Whenever the disease is generalized or disseminated throughout 
the system, or is of such character or extent as to affect the 
wholesomeness of the meat, the entire carcass is condemned— 
and the consumer is given the benefit of every doubt. Careful 
experiments carried out by the Bureau and by scientists else¬ 
where have shown that the germs of tuberculosis are not carried 
in the blood circulation and distributed throughout the system 
until the disease has reached a very advanced stage. It is, 
therefore, considered perfectly safe, when the infection is 
clearly limited to a certain gland or group of glands or an organ, 
to remove these parts and pass the healthy parts which have not 
become affected in any way by the disease. 
