92

of this memorandum to make further allusion to unwholesome or malted bread; but I have to state my distinct opinion that much of the mutton consumed in Nelson is unwholesome, in the sense of being almost destitute of the requisite elements of nutrition; the sheep are often, previously to being driven off the farm or station, old and ill-nourished, and, before reaching the Nelson market, from long driving and repeated irritation of the skin by the application of poisonous and pungent washes, an irritative fever is set up, from which they have seldom time to recover, and regain a healthy amount of fatty and muscular tissue.

To those who can afford it, it is generally possible to obtain good meat, but to working men, to whom 1d. or 2d. a pound is a large consideration, the importation of cattle has, in my opinion, been a great boon. Mr. Johnstone, the enterprising merchant who has lately imported cattle into Nelson, is an utter stranger to me, but some prejudice exists against his beef, it is my duty, for the information of that portion of the community with whom its lower price is a consideration, to state my impartial opinion, that all of it that I have had an opportunity of seeing or tasting was sound and wholesome, much more so than a great deal of the mutton lately sold in Nelson. If carefully stall-fed and tended on board ship, I am aware of no reason why most of the animals, if previously healthy, should not be landed in sound health at Nelson.

Some will doubtless contract inflammatory affections such as pneumonia, but if the disease had gone far enough to deteriorate the quality of the meat, symptoms the same as those given above, in the definition of epizootic pleuro-pneumonia would be seen, and the animal ought not to be used for human food. It will be the duty of Government, if it has any such powers, to look to this; and it will be the interest of importers and butchers to invite inspection.

I shall conclude by pointing out what I should consider a conclusive sign, and evident before any other, if called on to express an opinion on whether a suspected beast be fit for human food or not.

A few months ago Professor John Gamgee and Dr. Sanderson, when enquiring into the cause of the cattle plague, made the very important discovery that there is an exaltation of temperature, distinctly recognisable by thermometers constructed for the purpose, at a time when to use their words \"no other indication is observable that the animal is in any way ill,\" though I am not aware whether this test has been applied in bovine pleuro-pneumonia, for it has only very recently come into use even among physicians, yet from my experience during six or eight months of its value in the diagnosis of human specific and inflammatory affections, and having regard to the homologies of bovine diseases, I have no hesitation in stating that the following extract from a review of Professor Gamgee\'s treatise on cattle plague published in 1866 will apply, with no practical variation, to the analogous disease of pleuro-pneumonia. \"The practical importance of watching for this phenomenon in a suspected herd, is illustrated by Professor Gamgee in the instance of a farm near Lanark, where on examining forty-two cows, several of which were eating and ruminating and others giving a full quantity of milk, he found all with the exception of one exhibiting a temperature varying from 104° to 107-8°. This was on the 18th of November, only five of the whole herd were alive by the 25th.\"*

I may mention that the natural temperature of a beast, exhibited by a thermometer in the rectum is about 102° Fahr. and that anything beyond 104° would indicate grave disease even though other symptoms were wanting.

I shall be happy to place in the hands of any person authorised to inspect diseased beasts or conduct further enquiries, thermometers constructed for these observations.

S. A. CUSACK.

Nelson, June 26, 1867.

• British and Foreign Medico-Chirurgical Review, October 1866, page 310.

Printed under the authority of the Provincial Government, Nelson, by NATION & LUCKIE, Waimea-street, Nelson, Printers for the time being to the said Government.