68 
SPOLTA ZEYLANICA, 
While within the muscle-fibre the microscopic sarcocyst imbibes 
nourishment and grows until it distends the fibre to a relatively 
enormous size, causing the disappearance of the contractile sub¬ 
stance of the fibre and retaining around it as an external sheath a 
small quantity of nucleated sarcoplasm and the sarcolemma. 
After it has become macroscopic the sarcocyst as a rule still lies 
in the direction of the grain of the muscles indicative of its origin 
within a fibre. It often retains the primitive attachments of the 
original fibre at either end. 
Just as the presence of a microscopic cyst within a muscle fibre 
does not affect the immediate health of the latter, so the presence 
of the macroscopic cysts even in large numbers has no appreciable 
effect upon the health of the buffalo. 
IY.—Interdiction of Infected Carcases. 
The presence of the macroscopic stage of Sarcosystis in abund¬ 
ance renders the meat unsightly and repulsive and therefore 
unmarketable. It is the universal custom among medical and 
veterinary authorities to condemn badly infected meat, even 
though a section of the consumers may not object to the presence 
of the parasitic bodies. Unless buffalo meat is strictly differentiated 
from black cattle meat on the market, there will always be pur¬ 
chasers of beef who will be horrified by the chance occurrence of 
a Sarcocystis , and whose complaints will not stop at the butchers 
but will reach to the authorities. 
V.—Method of Ascertaining the Presence of the 
Parasite. 
The cysts may be found in all the fleshy parts of the body, 
including the tongue, muscles of the larynx, oesophagus, and dia¬ 
phragm ; in fact, in all those muscles which are composed of 
striped fibres. The heart, lungs, and liver are not affected. 
In heavily infected cases it has been noticed that the meat is 
dark, whereas in mild cases there is no change, but this is not an 
invariable rule, and is probably of little or no significance. 
The method of inspection adopted at the slaughter house 
consists in making deep incisions in the forequarters and hind¬ 
quarters of the carcase after the hide has been removed. If no 
sarcocysts are seen to protrude from the cut surfaces the carcase 
is passed. Should they be present the inspection is carried further 
and if the infection is found to be general, the carcase is con¬ 
demned and buried. In cases of mild general infection the 
carcase is passed. 
