S.I. No. 22/1929 - The Public Health (Veterinary Inspection) Order, 1929.

STATUTORY RULES AND ORDERS. 1929. No. 22.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH (VETERINARY INSPECTION) ORDER, 1929.

DEPARTMENT OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC HEALTH.

In exercise of the powers vested in me by Section 11 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, as amended by Section 22 of the Local Government Act, 1925 , and of all other powers in that behalf enabling me, I, the Minister for Local Government and Public Health, do hereby order and direct as follows, that is to say:—

1. This Order may be cited as the Public Health (Veterinary Inspection) Order, 1929.

2. Every sanitary officer, being a duly qualified veterinary surgeon, appointed by a sanitary authority:

(a) in pursuance of Section 22 of the Local Government Act, 1925 ; or

(b) prior to the passing of the Local Government Act, 1925 , and whose functions include the inspection of slaughter-houses and meat,

shall in respect of the district for which he is appointed perform and exercise the following duties and functions:—

(1) Where the enactments for the regulation of slaughter-houses are in force within the district, he shall upon application to the sanitary authority for the grant of a slaughter-house licence or for a renewal of such licence in respect of any premises within the district, visit the premises and furnish the sanitary authority with a report on the suitability of the premises as regards location, mode of construction, lighting, ventilation, drainage, water supply, condition of floors and walls, lairage accommodation and methods of disposal of refuse and manure.

(2) He shall ascertain and keep a record of the days and hours on and at which slaughtering is customarily carried out at each slaughter-house within the district.

(3) He shall from time to time inspect each slaughter-house within the district and take cognisance of its condition with respect to lighting, ventilation, drainage, water supply, cleanliness of floors, walls, implements and appliances, lairage accommodation, methods of disposal of refuse and manure, and freedom from flies, rats and other vermin, and compliance with any byelaws which the sanitary authority may have made for the regulation of slaughter-houses. He shall make recommendations for remedying any defects which he may observe, and if his advice is not complied with, shall report the circumstances to the sanitary authority.

(4) If a system of central meat inspection has been instituted in the district, he shall be responsible for the efficient working of the arrangements, and for carrying out inspections of meat in conformity with any byelaws of the sanitary authority for the time being in force.

(5) He shall, as far as practicable, undertake the ante-mortem inspection of all animals, cattle, sheep, swine and goats intended for slaughter within the district for consumption for purposes of the food of man.

(6) He shall carry out in each slaughter-house within the district post-mortem inspection of carcases or parts of carcases of animals intended for use for human consumption.

(7) In conducting inspections he shall have regard to the principles contained in the First Schedule hereto attached.

(8) He shall attend all such meetings of the sanitary authority as they may direct, and shall assist in all proceedings in which his services may be required.

(9) He shall advise the sanitary authority on all matters in relation to the public meat supply which require an expert knowledge of the diseases of animals.

(10) He shall report to the sanitary authority in writing, monthly, or more frequently if necessary, or so required by them, his proceedings and the measures which may require to be adopted for securing the wholesomeness of the public meat supply, and shall if a county medical officer of health or medical superintendent officer of health has been appointed for the district, forward all such reports to the sanitary authority through such officer.

(11) In any case where he shall have recommended, or the sanitary authority shall have required, any improvement or alteration in the arrangements or conditions of a slaughter-house, he shall, within a reasonable time revisit the premises. If his recommendations or the requirements of the sanitary authority have not been carried out, he shall report the circumstances to the sanitary authority.

(12) He shall, in all matters affecting the public health co-operate with and render all fitting assistance to the medical officers of health of the sanitary authority.

(13) He shall keep in a book or card index, to be provided by the sanitary authority, records of his proceedings as set forth in the Second Schedule hereto attached, and shall produce such record whenever required to do so by the sanitary authority, or by an officer of the Minister for Local Government and Public Health.

(14) He shall furnish to the Minister for Local Government and Public Health such returns relating to the condition of slaughter-houses in the district as the said Minister shall from time to time require from him.

(15) In matters not specifically provided for in this Order, he shall observe and execute all the lawful orders and directions of the sanitary authority, and all the orders, directions and instructions that the Minister for Local Government and Public Health may hereafter make, issue or give, applicable to his office.

Given under My Official Seal, this 31st day of May, in the Year of Our Lord One Thousand Nine Hundred and Twenty-nine.

(Signed) RISTEARD UA MAOLCHATHA,

Minister for Local Government and Public Health.

FIRST SCHEDULE

METHOD OF EXAMINATION OF CARCASES.

PART I.—GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.

1. Organs and Viscera:

(a) All organs and viscera shall be examined as they are removed from the carcase, or in such circumstances as will ensure that they are the organs and viscera of the particular carcase.

(b) All organs and viscera, together with the associated lymph glands, shall be examined by observation and palpation.

2. Carcase:

(a) The carcase shall be examined for (1) condition of nutrition; (2) evidence of bruising, hemorrhage, or discoloration; (3) local or general dropsy (Œdema); (4) the efficiency of bleeding; and (5) swellings or deformities of bones or joints, or swellings or other abnormality in the musculature.

(b) The serous membranes (pleura and peritoneum) shall be examined in every case, and in no case shall they be removed nor shall any evidence of disease be modified or obliterated by washing, rubbing, stripping, or in any other manner before examination.

(c) Where a carcase is split, the sternum, ribs, vertebrae and spinal cord shall be examined.

PART II.—DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS FOR ROUTINE INSPECTION OF CARCASES, ORGANS AND VISCERA OF BOVINES AND SWINE.

1. Head:

The head, including (a) the surface and substance of the tongue (which shall be loosened but not detached before examination); (b) the palate or roof of the mouth; and (c) the lymph glands of the throat (retro-pharyngeal, submaxillary and parotid), shall be examined; and the cheek muscles shall be examined by a linear incision parallel to the lower jaw.

2. Abdominal Cavity:

(a) Stomach, Intestines, and Spleen—The inner and outer surface of the stomach and intestines, and the surface and substance of the spleen shall be examined, together with the glands of the stomach and bowel (gastro-splenic and mesenteric) and the web (omentum).

(b) Liver. The surface and substance of the liver shall be examined, an incision being made into the thick end in the case of cattle. The associated glands (hepatic) shall also be examined and the bile ducts incised.

(c) Kidneys. The lymph glands of the kidneys (renal) and the adrenal glands shall be examined before the removal of the kidneys. Thereafter the kidneys shall be removed, and the surface examined, and, if necessary, the kidneys shall be split by incision and the substance examined.

(d) Uterus and Ovaries. The inner and the outer surface of the uterus, and the substance of the ovaries shall be examined.

3. Thoracic Cavity:

The pluck shall be examined in the following manner before the various organs are separated from each other.

(a) Lungs. The lungs shall be examined by observation and by palpation, and unless obviously diseased, they shall be incised at the base. The associated lymph glands (bronchial and mediastinal) shall also be examined, and, unless obviously diseased, shall be incised.

(b) Heart—The heart sac (pericardium) shall be opened; and the walls of the heart shall be incised so as to open the ventricles.

4. Udder:

The udder shall be examined by observation and by palpation; incisions shall be made at the base of the teats; and the associated glands (supramammary) shall also be incised.

5. Testicles and Penis:

The outer surface and the substance of the testicles and penis and the superficial inguinal glands shall be examined.

6. Serous Membranes:

The lining (serous) membranes of the chest and abdomen (pleura and peritoneum) shall be examined in every case.

The following lymph glands shall be examined as a matter of routine in all cases, viz.:—

(1) retro-pharyngeal (in bovines) and submaxillary (in swine); (2) bronchial and mediastinal; (3) hepatic; and (4) mesenteric.

PART III.—ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS AS TO METHOD OF INSPECTION FOR EVIDENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS IN BOVINES AND SWINE.

1. All organs and viscera, and the associated lymph glands, shall be examined for evidence of tuberculosis both in the substance and in the covering membranes (capsules). The existence of tuberculosis in the lymph gland of an organ shall be held to be evidence of the disease in the organ.

2. The carcase lymph glands shall be examined in accordance with the following instructions (the glands in every case being exposed before examination, and incised):—

(a) When visible evidence of tuberculosis is found in a carcase, or in the organs or viscera, those glands which, having regard to such visible evidence, are least likely to be infected shall be examined first, e.g., if evidence tuberculosis is found on the pleura, the glands of the hindquarters shall be examined before those of the fore-quarters.

(b) If a tuberculous lesion or an abscess is found in any carcase lymph gland, all the other carcase lymph glands shall be examined.

(c) If evidence of tuberculous disease is found on a serous membrane (pleura or peritoneum) all the carcase lymph glands shall be examined.

(d) If the throat glands (retro-pharyngeal, submaxillary, or parotid) are affected with tuberculosis, the cervical, prepectoral and pre-scapular glands shall be examined.

(e) If the bronchial and—or mediastinal glands are affected with tuberculosis, the prepectoral, supra-sternal, pre-scapular, intercostal and xiphoid glands shall be examined.

(f) If the liver and—or the associated lymph glands (hepatic) are affected with tuberculosis, all the carcase lymph glands shall be examined.

(g) If the bowel glands (mesenteric) are affected with tuberculosis, the superficial inguinal, (or upramammary), the lumbar, renal, iliac and pre-crural glands small be examined.

(h) If the uterus is affected with tuberculosis, the iliac, pre-crural, lumbar, and sacral glands shall be examined.

(i) If the penis or the testicles are affected with tuberculosis, the superficial inguinal, iliac, sacral, popliteal, and pre-crural glands shall be examined.

(j) If tuberculous lesions are found in the bones, joints, limbs, or the spinal cord, all the carcase lymph glands shall be examined.

(k) If the submaxillary gland in a pig is affected with tuberculosis the carcase shall be split and all the carcase lymph glands shall be examined.

(l) The carcase of a pig in which lesions of tuberculosis are found in any situation or in any degree shall be split and the bones of the vertebrae examined and all the carcase lymph glands shall be examined.

PART IV.—INSTRUCTIONS AS TO ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF EVIDENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS BEING FOUND IN BOVINES AND SWINE.

1. An organ shall be seized when tuberculosis exists on its capsule, or in its substance, or in the associated lymph glands.

2. The head, including the tongue, shall be seized:—

(a) when the retro-pharyngeal, parotid, and sub-maxillary glands, or any two of these, are affected;

(b) when the retro-pharyngeal gland alone in bovines, or the sub-maxillary gland alone in swine, is affected, unless the lesions are small, inactive, and calcareous and the gland is not enlarged, in which case the head shall be passed, after removal of the glands, the base of the tongue, and the pharynx with the structures in its immediate neighbourhood.

3. The entire carcase, and all the organs and viscera shall be seized when the following conditions are found:—

(a) Tuberculosis with emaciation.

(b) Generalised tuberculosis.

In determining whether the disease is generalised, the judgment shall be based on the sum of the evidence of disease throughout the entire carcase and organs. The following shall be regarded as evidence of this condition:—

(1) Miliary tuberculosis of both lungs, with any evidence of tuberculosis elsewhere.

(2) Where lesions are multiple, acute and actively progressive.

(3) Where there is multiple and widespread infection of the carcase lymph glands.

(4) Where there are diffuse acute lesions of both serous membranes (pleura and peritoneum) and any of the carcase lymph glands are enlarged or contain visible tuberculous lesions.

(5) Where, in addition to the presence of tuberculosis lesions in the respiratory and digestive tracts, there are also lesions present in the substance of any two of the following:—Spleen, kidney, udder (or uterus or ovary), testicle, brain and spinal cord or their membranes.

(6) Congenital tuberculosis in calves.

4. All cases of tuberculosis not included in the immediately foregoing Instruction shall be regarded and treated as localised lesions, and the parts containing the lesions and contiguous thereto shall be seized.

In the application of this Instruction, in cases of widespread infection that do not fall within the category of generalised tuberculosis as laid down in Part IV, Instruction 3, hereof, the rump or rumps shall be seized only when lesions exist in the popliteal gland, and the shoulder blade or shoulder blades shall be seized only when lesions exist in the pre-scapular or brachial glands

5. If any portion of a carcase or any organ or viscera becomes contaminated by tuberculous material, it shall be treated as if it were a case of localised tuberculosis.

PART V.—INSTRUCTIONS AS TO ACTION TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF EVIDENCE OF OTHER DISEASE BEING FOUND IN CARCASES OR IN ORGANS OR VISCERA OF BOVINES AND SWINE.

1. The entire carcase, and all the organs and viscera shall be seized if evidence of any of the following diseases is found:—

(1) Actinomycosis, generalised.

(2) Anaemia (if pronounced).

(3) Anthrax. (Cases of this disease must be notified in terms of the Diseases of Animals Act).

(4) Blackleg.

(5) Bruising, general, extensive and severe, with or without gangrene.

(6) Cysticercus cellulosae (measly pork).

N.B.—In the examination of all pig carcases, the "leaf seam" (sub-peritoneal fat) shall be raised and the inner surface of the abdominal muscles examined for evidence of cysticercus cellulose.

(7) Decomposition.

(8) Dropsy, general.

(9) Emaciation, general pathological.

(10) Fever.

(11) Glanders (or Farcy). (Cases of this disease must be notified in terms of the Diseases of Animals Act).

(12) Immaturity (i.e., stillborn or unborn carcases).

(13) Jaundice.

(14) Lymphadenitis, caseous (generalised).

(15) Malignant catarrh.

(16) Malignant neoplasms—unless localised, in situation and effect, to one organ.

(17) Mammitis, acute septic or gangrenous.

(18) Melanosis, generalised—or any generalised pigmentation.

(19) Metritis, acute septic.

(20) Odour, associated with disease or otherwise prejudicial to health.

(21) Pericarditis, septic.

(22) Pneumonia, septic or gangrenous.

(23) Pyaemia—including joint-ill, or umbilical pyaemia.

(24) Rickets, with malnutrition.

(25) Sarcocysts—if generalised in the musculature and visible to the naked eye.

(26) Septicaemia, or septic intoxication.

(27) Swine erysipelas, acute.

(28) Swine fever. (Cases of this disease must be notified in terms of the Diseases of Animals Act).

(29) Tetanus.

(30) Trichinosis.

(31) Tumours, multiple, in musculature.

(32) Uroemia.

2. In the event of evidence of cysticercus bovis (beef measles) being found in a carcase and—or in a head, the carcase and—or head may be passed for human consumption provided that they are placed in cold storage at a temperature not higher than 20° Fahrenheit, for a period of at least three weeks, or, alternatively, they shall be seized.

3. In all cases in which evidence of diseases not enumerated in Instructions 1 and 2 above are found, the organ or portion of the carcase (or organs or portions of the carcase) affected by the disease, and the organs or portions contiguous thereto, shall be seized.

SECOND SCHEDULE.

RECORDS TO BE KEPT.

4. Numbers and kinds of entire cases seized with all the organs and viscera and the diseases for which they are seized.

5. Numbers and kinds of carcases partially seized and—or of organs and viscera seized and the diseases for which they are seized and the portions, organs or viscera seized.

6. Whether the carcases, portions, organs or viscera seized are destroyed with the consent of the owners or condemned after proceeding before the District Justice or Peace Commissioner.

7. Weight of meat seized.

8. How seized meat is disposed of.