“During the period of 1901-1906 inclusive, over 660,000 _post-mortem_ inspections were made of animals, which before slaughter had been rejected in the stock yards as apparently diseased. Of these, only 85,000—_less than one in eight_—were finally condemned as wholly unfit for food purposes.... What is it that the United States inspector is required by his regulation to condemn as unfit for human food? The carcasses of animals which he might find affected by cancer or malignant tumours? No. He is directed to condemn _the tumour_, the part of the carcass which was affected, the organ which was infiltrated by disease! The remainder of the carcass—what becomes of that? Is there anything which prevents it from being turned into the food supply of the poorer classes? There is sometimes a silence which accords assent.... Suppose the entire liver of a hog to be a mass of cancerous disease; what is there in these regulations of the Department of Agriculture to prevent transmuting the muscular tissues and unaffected organs into various food delicacies or food products, which in due time should find their way to the tables of rich and poor in England and America? Not a word!... “The United States Department of Agriculture advances yet another step, and, under certain circumstances, _requires_ the inspector’s approval of the flesh of tuberculous animals as fit food for human beings: ”_Rule C._—The carcass, if tuberculous lesions are limited to a single or several parts or organs of the body (except as noted in Rule A) without evidence of recent invasion of tubercle bacilli into the systemic circulation, SHALL BE PASSED, after the parts containing the localised lesions are removed and condemned.” The following table affords matter of interest:— _Number of Carcasses (Approximately) found on inspection to be affected with tuberculosis, of which “parts” were condemned, and the remainder passed as wholesome food._[28] YEAR CATTLE HOGS 1900 85 1,061 1901 256 44 1902 152 4,700 1903 250 52,006 1904 703 118,820 1905 647 142,105 1906 1,114 113,491 1907 10,530 364,559 1908 27,467 628,462 —————— ————-——— Total 41,204 1,425,248 [28] Abstract from the Annual Report of the Bureau of Animal Industry. The significance of these figures should not escape the reader. Here is the proof, based upon official statistics, of the utilisation for food purposes of animals suffering from tuberculous disease!