AUSTRALIAN BEEF.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1026, 16 January 1911, Page 5

AUSTRALIAN BEEF.

. PABASITIC NODULES. By Telegraph-JresJ Association-Copyright. London, January 14. Reporting to the Local Government Board, Dr. Robert Leiper declares that tho parasitic nodules in Australian beef are without exception due to worms of the genus ouchocerca. This diseased condition is not peculiar to Australia, but is found in animals in various parts of the world, including the-United States. The parasites belong to the group of worms that require to bo taken up by a biting insect and' undergo a certain degree of development therein beforo they can be transmitted to another warm-blooded ani : mal. They appear incapable of surviving more than a. few hours the death of tho cattle. There is no evidence ui the vitality of the worm or embryo found in Australian beef here. Therefore, tho direct development of tho parasite in man as the result of eating affected meat is impossible. The nodules are the product of changes taking place in tho tissue, and the result of some acrid toxin excrcted by tho worms. Their presence in meat intended for human consumption is, therefore, undesirable, and such meat must be classed as unsound. Tho •"Morning. Tost" publishes interviews fath, Major Sir- TV B. Robinson, Agent-General from Queensland, and Captain Collins, Secretary to the High Commissioner, pointing out that effective steps have been taken in Australia to remove the briskets and flanks before tho shipment of .tho ljecf. In October last it was stated t'fiat the meat trade in London was perturbed at the serious increase of worm nodules manifest in Australian beef. It was considered bv, those.interested that the .Commonwealth authorities should, adopt active measures to prevent further heavy losses. . "The nodules referred to (says tho Melbourne "Argus") aro what have been known to the meat trado for manv years as kernels., and have (occasionally appearel in the brisket portion of the forequarter. . Thcv , are about the size of mnrbles, and aro 'quite harmless, their scientific name bejng Ppirontera Reticulata; In London' tho health authorities have recently decided to . cut'away tho portion , containing these, nodules, and this has led to expense, and in.some cases tho disposal of that portion has resulted in more or loss loss to those.-concerned.. This matter applies almost entirely to the Stato of Queensland, as frozen beef is virtually . only shipped thence, Victoria and New South Wales requiring all their •production for. local consumption."