WASTING FROM WARBLES. 
Ill 
those who thoroughly understand the subject differ amongst themselves 
in opinion, but it does occur whether the difference in bitterness of 
taste may not be according to the completeness with which the diseased 
tissues above the meat may have been removed (E. A. 0.). 
The view that the quality of the meat is deteriorated consequently 
on Warble-presence in the animal from which it is taken is confirmed 
by the following abstract given by Prof. Riley, Entomologist, U.S.A. 
Department of Agriculture, from a notice of the results of the very 
widely-extended investigations regarding Warble-attack made during 
1889 by Mr. A. S. Alexander, Member of the [Highland and Agri¬ 
cultural Society of Scotland (and while still in this country one of my 
own contributors), now Editor of the 4 Farmer’s Review,’ Chicago, in 
which journal the original papers appeared :— 
“Without considering the lessened quantity, the inferiority of the 
beef of animals infested by the grub is strikingly shown in an article 
on the subject, in which the testimony of retail butchers and buyers of 
meat in Chicago and other cities is given. It is shown that the buyers 
of the highest class of meat who supply hotels and restaurants will not 
on any account purchase carcases showing traces of Warble-attack. 
Such beef has to be sold, therefore, at a price below that obtainable for 
good beef, free from grub-damage, and the lessened value per animal 
was put at from two to five dollars.”* 
For years observations have been sent me of cases of wa^ting-away 
or even of death accompanying bad Warble-attack, and, on the other 
hand, of the good effect on the animals in fatting well and milking well 
where Warbles were kept down, as in the Bunbury district, by the 
united action of the farmers’ sons ; but this can be turned to in my 
previous Reports; and now relatively to the loss caused to the cattle- 
owner by neglected or overlooked Warble-attack, I give the following 
detailed note. 
On April 10th, Mr. James Sparkes, of Wearhead, Darlington, for¬ 
warded me the following information regarding loss consequent on bad 
Warble-presence in the case of a Heifer he had lately sold:— 
“ I recently sold to a butcher here a very good Heifer, which turned 
out a much lighter weight than I anticipated from the extra good feed, 
&c., and much surprised to find the poor animal had been one of the 
martyrs, hide considerably reduced in value, and understand some 
parts of the meat had to be scraped to be made presentable. I will 
now take good care this shall not occur again, having procured 
McDougall’s Smear and careful inspection.” 
A few days later, in reply to my request for further details, Mr. J. 
Sparke wrote me that the butcher had found the badly-warbled animal 
* “Insect Life.” ‘Periodical Bulletin of U.S.A. Department of Agriculture,’ 
No. 5, vol. ii., p. 157. Washington. 
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