Bulletin

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY, Washington, D. C., October 4, 1897. SIR: I have the honor to transmit herewith, and to recommend for publication as Bulletin No. 19 of this Bureau, under the general title "The inspection of meats for animal parasites," a report on "The flukes and tapeworms of cattle, sheep, and swine, with special reference to the inspection of meats," prepared under my direction by Dr. Ch. Wardell Stiles, Zoologist of the Bureau. Appended to the report, and as valuable adjuncts thereto, are a "Compendium of the parasites" and a "Bibliography," prepared by Albert Hassall, M. R. C. V. S., of the Zoological Laboratory. Although the report is intended primarily for the use of the meat inspectors of this Bureau, it will be found of general interest to all sanitarians, since it treats of the communicability of certain parasites from animals to man, and suggests the neces sary methods of prevention and treatment therefor. The publication and distribution of the bulletin will serve a useful purpose in disseminating knowledge of the precautions that are required to eradicate certain of the most important parasites affecting domesticated animals in this country-parasites which are a menace to the public health. Its early publication is desirable, as there is no work in the English language covering the subjects of which it treats.

Respectfully,

D. E. SALMON,

Chief of Bureau.

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL.

U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY,

ZOOLOGICAL LABORATORY,

Washington, D. C., July 10, 1897. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith for publication a report covering "The flukes and tapeworms of cattle, sheep, and swine, with special reference to the inspection of meats," prepared by myself, and the corresponding "Compendium of the parasites" and "Bibliography," prepared by Dr. Albert Hassall.

This report is intended primarily for meat inspectors, and contains discussions of the various flukes and tapeworms which our Bureau inspectors are likely to meet with on the killing floors of the abattoirs. Technical zoological details have for the most part been omitted, the stress being placed upon the practical application of our zoological knowledge to questions of public hygiene.

The more important parasites for the American inspectors are: The Common Liver Fluke and the Large American Fluke, which are serious dangers to the live stock; Beef measles, Pork measles, and Hydatids, all of which bear an important relation to diseases in man.

I would direct especial attention to the Hydatids. Hydatid disease is at present comparatively rare in this country, and now is the time to attack it. By proper precautions at the abattoirs and slaughterhouses this dangerous parasite can be totally eradicated from the country. If these precautions are not carried out it will be only a question of time when this country will take its place with Germany and Australia in respect to the number of human lives sacrificed to a disease which has not yet gained much ground with us and can now be easily controlled. The illustrations of this bulletin were prepared by Mr. Haines, artist of the Bureau.

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