SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
693 
berculoiis carcasses would raise the price of meat beyond the 
limit of the poor people, so that only the generalized carcasses 
are confiscated, the milder cases being allowed to go on the mar¬ 
ket as tuberculous meat and sold at reduced prices.^ There is no 
proof to show that this has increased the mortality from this 
disease in the human subject, in the countries where this prac¬ 
tice is followed. If we consider the manner of the spread of 
this disease within the body we may conclude that some cases 
of tuberculosis are not so dangerous as appears. As a rule in¬ 
fection takes place by way of the lungs or the intestines. The 
bacilli penetrate the mucous membrane, enter the lymph chan¬ 
nels and are carried to the nearest lymphatic glands, in a great 
number of cases without injury to the organ through which 
they obtained access. They thus form in the glands primary 
foci of the disease. The bacilli on reaching the gland set up an 
irritation, followed by a cell proliferation and formation of new 
elements. This goes on for some time, although it is yet purely 
local, but it is soon followed either by dissemination of the dis- 
ease,’or calcification overtaking the process, in which latter case 
the disease becomes stationary. • • / \ 
Dissemination takes place in three ways : (i) contiguity, (2) 
by the lymph, (3) by the blood. Contiguous dissemination is ex¬ 
emplified in tuberculosis of the serous membranes. DissemiM- 
tion by the lymph stream is a slow process. Dissemination by 
the blood causes a general infection. , . , 
When we have a case of generalized tuberculosis, as shown 
by the appearance of tubercles throughout the carcasse, it is rig t 
to condemn such meat, but when we have a case where the only 
lesions shown are in the lymphatic glands, and we are confident 
that it is so confined, and especially when the glands are in a 
calcified condition, and the carcass has the appearance of having 
been well nourished, I think there is no danger in such meat, 
and there is justification for allowing it to go on the market. 
Occasionally we find “Texasfever ” in the slaughter-houses. 
Generally, however, the disease is observed by the ante-mortem 
inspector and as a result the whole drove of cattle is sent to the 
slaughter-house in order to save the carcasses of the least affected. 
The disease is not communicable to man, but as it is a febrile 
disease the flesh cannot but have deleterious effects on the hu¬ 
man organism. I quite agree with Dr. Stewart that it taxes the 
judgment of the inspector quite severely, in passing upon the 
carcasses in which the disease is not fully developed. 
So far as appearances go a great many carcasses of expose 
