LICKED BEEF. 
19 
part of tlie loss caused by warble-attack: in the words of Mr. R. 
Stratton, of the Dufifryn, Newport, Monmouthshire, to whom I have 
from the beginning of our work been greatly indebted for co-operation, 
“ it is as pennies to sovereigns” compared to the loss on the animals. 
Licked Beef. 
Warble-attack, when severe to an extent often found to be the 
case, causes inflammation, and consequently very evident alteration 
in the state of the tissues immediately beneath the warbled part of 
the hide. 
This condition, known as “licked beef” or “jelly,” has long 
been only too well known to all connected with dressing cattle after 
slaughter, but the nature and precise cause of the condition was, as 
far as I am aware, not known. And in the year 1889 we were enabled, 
through post mortem examinations, to obtain clear proof of connection 
between presence of inflammation seriously injurious to condition of 
the animal and presence of warble in the overlying part of the hide.* 
In the investigation I was greatly indebted for assistance to Prof. 
John Penberthy, of the Royal Veterinary College, Camden Town, 
N.W.; to Mr. Henry Thompson, M.R.C.V.S., of Aspatria, Cumber¬ 
land, who has long devoted much attention to warble-treatment; and 
also to Mr. John Child, Managing Secretary of the Leeds and District 
Hide, Skin, &c., Company. 
The reasons for the name of “ licked beef” being applied to the altered 
condition, and a description of this altered state, is given in the 
following observations, with which I was favoured in reply to my 
enquiries by Mr. Henry Thompson, M.R.C.V.S., Aspatria, Cumber¬ 
land :— 
“With reference to what you call ‘licked beef,’ I suppose you 
mean that portion of the back (sirloin) where the warbles are generally 
most numerous, and, when ready to leave their quarters, cause so 
much irritation that the cow licks them with her rough tongue, and 
assists in their removal, and is thus thought by many to damage the 
flesh underneath ; hence the name, ‘licked beef.’ But I cannot see 
* The reader will please observe that in these notes I am entirely limiting 
myself to observation of the nature of the mischief caused by warble-presence. 
Inflammation may be caused by injury to the animal, or local disease, or it is 
considered sometimes to arise from too-high keep given to push on the condition of 
the animal rapidly; but the great cause of the alteration under consideration is 
warble-presence, therefore I have only given the results of examination of speci¬ 
mens where we had the warble-presence in connection. The mischief itself and 
its origin from warbles we have ample evidence of for many years back; but the 
point especially asked for was to learn what this changed state was, anatomically 
considered.—E. A. O. 
B 2 
