Cow Carnage.

Thames Star, Volume XXX, Issue 9112, 5 July 1898, Page 4

Cow Carnage.

THE SOKT OF MILK THAT

SELLS AS FOOD,

A recent issue of Sydney Truth tells of the wholesale slaughter at the public abattoirs of diseased milch cows from a Botany dairy. It is to be presumed that, up to the time of their slaughter, these beasts were supplying au unsuspecting public with contaminated milk. We quote as follows :—

Of the various Government Departments, the Board of Health is about the most difficult to get into action. Its machinery moves cumbrously like a huge 100 ton gun, but once a shot strikes the object of its destiny, destruction is terrific. Such was the case on Wednesday last when eight fine loekingwell condi'ion milch cows from a well-known North Botany Dairy were slaughtered at the abattoirs by the authority of the Board of Health and found, as anticipated, to be badly diseased with tuberculosis The tnbercles were found in different part of the animals in various stage of development. The

SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE,

in the herd in question, were first noticed in one of the cows by the Botany residents who communicated with the Inspector for the North Botauy Council. That officer satisfied himself that the animal was badly diseased and informed the Board, of Health. He received instructions to immediately destroy the cow a-id search for tuberculosis. Accordingly the beast was killed and dissected and tuberculosis was found to have developed into its worst degrees ; the cow having a very large tubercle in the neck, the lump being conspicuous through the distension of the skin. Being anxious to know the result of the examination, the secretary of the B©ard of Health wired out to the North Botany Council's inspector on the 25th, the following hurried but humorous message;—' Kindly say if owner of diseased cow has been destroyed.' The inspector with a vein ©f humor informed the council that he had contented himself by

DESTROYING, THE COW,

Originality is an unknown quantity at the N. B. Councillor's (beg pardon aldermen's) table, and the freshness of the joke arising from the carcase of a consumptive cow, shook their tripes up merrily, Mr Edward Stanley, Chief Veterinary Surgeon to the Government, subsequently visited the dairy and inspected the fifteen remaining milch cows. His experience satisfied him that the disease must have spread to some of the other beasts, and he determined on injecting tuber culm into all the cowe to test their condition. The temperature of each

beast was taken before the injection and in a specified time it was again taken. Eight of the cows showed a very high temperature after the elapse of some hours, and the test having proved the presence of tubereolosis, tHSy

WKII3 CONFISCATED

and taken over to the abattoirs for slaughter. Soon after 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning Mr Stanley ordered the cows to be killed. The owner and hiß specially engaged veterinary surgeons were present, together with a few interested spectators. Mr Shelly, the chief inspector at the abattoirs, was present with Mr Stanley. The first three cows killed looked good milkers and exhibited no outward sign of disease, but when the beads were cut off, one beast showed the tubercles freely in the neck. Another was clean in the neck but the liver and lungs were diseased. The third showed the tubercles in different places, one being in the flesh above the loins close to the spine on the back.

THE SECOND TRIO.

Three more were then killed and examined with equal care. Each of them had the disease in a greater or lesser degree, and the tubercles were also found in the udders. In the case of a nice looking fat little brown beast, there was no sign of disease in either neck, lung or liver, and at first sight she appeared to be healthy. But when Mr Stanley ordered the intestines to be examined and the hard lumps cut open, she was in even a more advanced stage of tuberculosis than the other live. The result of the examination of this beast was indeed surprising, and no one was more surprised than the owner. He had looked upon the animal as one of the most healthy in his dairy.

THE THIRD BATCH,

The remaining two belongiug to the dairyman were slaughtered in company with a young speyed cow, said to have been sent down to the Homebush Sale Yards with a mob from Queensland by millionaire Tyson. The diiryman's cows were examined first and plainly showed the tubercles on lungs and liver. The Queensland animal was a mass of disease, one tubercle being as big as a sheep's liver. Everyone present was satisfied that the eight milch cows were unfit for dairy purposes, while the speyed beast was altogether unfit for food. Mr Stanley and Mr Shelly were thoroughly satisfied with their morning's work, and the owner cf the milch cows seemed satisfied that the Board of Health was justified in its action. Although it is a

VERY HEAVY BLOW

to the dairyman to see nine of his herd destroyed within a week, it is gratifying to the public to know that so many diseased milkers will no longer help in spreading the disease of consumption through tho milk pail. The nine cows were valued at upwards of £50. Betore they were killed and examined the owner had the usual assurance from the Board of Health that if any or all of the cows were found to be healthy he would be paid their full value, "but if they were found to be suffering from tuberculosis, he would only receive the value of the hides and fat, less the slaughterman's charges. This is the practice followed iv every ease. Dairymen should bear in mind that one badly diseased cow may contaminate the whole herd. The highly contagious tuberculosis is a menacß to the milk trade, for once it takes hold it means ruin. A healthy outward appeaarnce is no proof of the absence of the disease, in its early stage, and it should be to the interest of

EVERY DAIRYMAN

to have his herd inspected and tested with the tuberculin. This precaution may prove of a very £ reat value in the end. If there are diseased beasts in use they can be destroy9d and the healthy beasts secured against infec» tion. It would even be advisable, if not most desirable, that dairymen should have all cows tested with ihe tuberculin before completing the purchase of them. Its no use trying to deceive the health inspectors if owners are aware of any diseased milkers in their herds. The very closest scrutiny of milkers will henceforth be maintained by the officers of the Board of Health and the suburban council's health inspectors.

A DI9EABED HULL,

On Tuesday last a valuable shorthorn bull, imported by Mr John Lee of Bathurst, was destroyed by the officers of the Board of Health, and found to have developed tuberculosis to a most dangerous extent. The bull was landed in the colony and quarantined in January last. Symptoms of tuberculoeis were discovered, and the destruction of the animal was almost decided on, when it was considered advisable to first try the tuberculin tesfc for fear of any mistake in diagnosis before slaughtering such a highly priced beast. Not many hours had elapsed after the injection of the tuberculin, when the temperature shot up to the indicative 104 degree mark. This was regarded as ample proof of the presence of tuberculosis. The bull was killed and cut open and a tubercle weighing 2 1 .'lbs was taken away from the left jaw, j

DISPOSING OF CARCASES,

Very great care is taken at the abattoirs that not a particle of the diseased meat gets into consumption, laamediately the inspection is over and the carcases are condemned, they are cut up and placed in a cart for conveyance to the boiling downs. Kerosene is freely poured over them in the vehicle while the tongue, liver, kidney, etc., are slashed to piece 3by the slaughter-men and rendered unfit for use, Every necessary precaution is taken.