LYMPHO-ADENITIS

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 19

LYMPHO-ADENITIS

ARGENTINE AND AUSTRALIAN MUTTON AFFECTED. NOT A NEW DISEASK. I By -SUNDOWNER.") Newspapers during the past month have published cablegrams from Home in reference to a disease of the lymphatic gland* in sheep, which for some time has caused not a little stir ami comment in Sinithfield market, and has now heen brought more before the notice of tiic general public through the matter of inspection bring discussed in the House of Commons. The disease in question, known to veterinary science as lympho-adenitis, or pseudo-tuberculosis, is by no means new, having been known amongst sheep in Australia and New Zealand during the ln*t thirty or forty years at least. Mutton carcases have regularly been inspected for this trouble, being rejected whenever the examination has proved that any of the glande which can he inspected with a superficial examination are affected.

Glands Usually Affected. Whereas practically any gland in the sheepV body may become atfeeted with the micro-organism which is the eaunC of,, this disease, an examination by the meat inspectors of four easily-accessible glands in the carcase is usually considered sufficient, and if these are found to be unaffected the meat is passed. Tiiese gland* are situated, two at the back of the neck, one oil each side, and two others situated in the flanks, just where they join the hind-leu. Before the sheep are frozen it is possible to di-tcct by the fat whether these glands are in a healthy condition or not. but apparently when the carcases arrive at Smithlield in a frozen condition the meat inspectors find it necessary to cut the carcase to discover whether disease is present. Apart from the delay and expense of this inspection. Australian shippers complain that the carcases are so mutilated as to seriously affect, their selling value. Nature of the Disease. The disease, described as pseudotuberculosis, resembled tuberculosis only in appearance) and is not transferable to human beings when the meat is cooked. The gland really tills with an objectionable pus, which, if it came in contact with a wound, might, cause boils or sores on a human being, but would lie unlikely to set up any organic discatse. How It Affects the Peminion. Lynipho adenitis is far more prevalent in Australia and tin- Argentine than in New Zealand, and consequently, so far, I our Dominion mutton has escaped the special inspection given at Home to the meat from these other countries. While this is saving New Zealand producers money and annoyance, it is unfortunate , that consumers in the Did Country broadly class all meat coming from Australasia as Australian, and it is noticeable that stock journals published in England do net point out to their readers that New Zealand mutton and lamb is practically free of the trouble. In the House ci Commons. Mr. Will Thome, 11.P., who is at present raising the question in the House of Commune, says .that lie is dissatisfied with the inspection of meat in the countries of origin. The disease is apparently not, as he states, "a menace to health," but such a.statement publicly made is sufficient to materially aiVei-t the market value of colonial meat.

The English farmer producing fat stock to compete with the ever-growing quantity of meat imported into England from abroad, is unlikely to miss the present opportunity of stressing the superiority of his own produce, though it is not stated that English sheep are

The origin of the disease is not known to veterinarians, though the organism is supposed to live in the soil and transfer itself to its host by means of the iooa eaten, but from its prevalence h. the warmer countries, where sheep-rais-ing is carried on, it is apparent that climate has a considerable amount to do with its life history. It is sincerely to be hoped that the present agitation for rigorous meat inspection at Smithfield does not spread until it embraces the New Zealand product, and we would suggest that the present excellent system of meat inspection at our ireezing works be made even more rigorous, so that no reasonable giounds ior sucn a step may remain to those who might wish to put a further handicap on our meat in competition with the Home-grown article.