1 Noyv., 1901.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 499 
latter stages of this disease, when pleurisy had healed and resolution had taken 
place, the meat had usually regained its tone, and should be passed; but, 
nevertheless, such carcasses should always be “ribbed,” for in this disease the 
flesh always took longer to right itself than was the case in other minor ailments. 
With regard to anthrax, Mr. McPhail said this disease was easily recog- 
nised when well advanced. The interior of the carcass had the appearance of 
‘being drenched with blood. The flesh was dark in colour, and did not set; 
there were extravasations of blood into the muscles and into the heart 
_substanee. The spleen was enlarged, the tissue of that organ being broken 
down, until the whole resembled simply a bag of blood. Such was a typical 
case, and the flesh of such an animal would, of course, be condemned. Some- 
times, however, the animals were killed in the early stages of the disease. In 
this condition the flesh was pale and of a “slaty” hue, presenting a parboiled 
appearance and having a peculiar sickly odour. Any carcass showing such 
physical appearances should, in addition to being condemned, be carefully 
examined for anthrax bacilli. 
Dealing with blackleg, Mr. McPhail said that in the early stages the flesh 
of an animal suffering from this disease did not show marked changes ; but, 
should the disease be at all advanced, it was dark and soft, and would not set. 
‘The odour from this disease distinctly resembled that of rancid butter, and if a 
iece of the meat was cooked the same smell was present, even after cooking. 
‘The flesh of an animal suffering from this disease should be condemned. 
With regard to parasitical bronchitis, Mr. McPhail said the lesions were 
easily recognised, for if the affected lungs were cut into and squeezed the 
parasites were easily seen under an ordinary lens. The bronchii were always 
filled with a frothy liquid. Unless the carcass was emaciated from aggravated 
disease, it might be passed, but the lungs must not be passed. 
Phthisis verminalis was more common than the last-mentioned, and was of 
two forms. ‘The first form occurred as greyish-yellow patches, irregularly | 
angular in shape, and projecting slightly above the surrounding lung tissue, 
but they never occurred in the depth of the lung substance. In the other 
form the lesions were about the size of rabbit shot, greyish-yellow in colour, 
and firm on pressure. This form was caused by a long filiform worm, coiled 
upon itself. Neither of these forms of parasitical pneumonia affected the 
animal. The carcass was generally well nourished, so it might be passed, but 
the lungs should be condemned. 
Peritonitis might be caused by foreign bodies penetrating the bowels, and 
thus allowing the escape of the fluid contents, or it might be caused by one 
animal jumping on another and falling with its legs apart. In the primary 
stages there was congestion of the blood vessels lining the abdominal cavity, 
with serum appearing in the abdomen. If the cause should be of a septic 
nature then a bad odour was present; and in a bad case there were adhesions. 
The accompanying fever reflected sufficiently on the beef to warrant its con- 
demnation. Among the animals sent to the slaughter-house, the carcasses of 
which were destroyed, the liver was found to be the organ of all others most 
commonly affected. If jaundice had not been induced the carcass might be 
assed and the organ retamed. A carcass of an animal suffering from this 
Pann of disease should only be condemned when emaciated. Local abscesses 
were very common, and might be of considerable dimensions. They oceurred 
in various parts of the body, but were specially common in the region of the 
liver. The carcasses where these were most frequently met with were those of 
Trish cattle. Though the carcasses should be passed, care ought to be taken in 
dressing the carcass to prevent any possibility of contamination of other parts 
during removal. Over-driving had a most deleterious effect on a careass, and 
the flesh of an animal which had been so treated was simply unmarketable, 
for it did not bleed well, neither would it set well, and remained soft, dark, 
and flabby. It might be laid down as a general rule that such an animal 
should be allowed at least forty-eight hours to recover from this condition, 
and the meat should be given an additional forty-eight hours before it was 
cut’ up. 
