The Fresh Meat Export (Hygiene and Inspection) (Scotland) Regulations 1987

PART VI detailed instructions domestic solipeds

1.  In the case of domestic solipeds the inspection shall include in particular an examination of –

(a) the head and the throat; the surface of the tongue after it has been freed to permit a detailed inspection of the mouth and the fauces; the retro-pharyngeal, submaxillary and parotid lymph nodes shall be palpated and, if an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary, examined in detail;

(b) the lungs, the trachea and oesophagus; the trachea and the main branches of the bronchi shall be opened lengthwise and the lungs shall be incised in their posterior third, at right angles to their main axes (save that these incisions are not necessary where the lungs are excluded from human consumption); the bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes shall be palpated and, if an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary, examined in detail;

(c) the pericardium, which shall be opened, and the heart; the latter shall be incised lengthwise so as to open the ventricles and to cut through the intra-ventricular septum;

(d) the diaphragm;

(e) the surfaces and substance of the liver and the hepatic lymph nodes; the liver shall be incised if an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary; the hepatic lymph nodes shall be palpated and, if an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary, the hepatic lymph nodes shall be examined in detail;

(f) the alimentary tract, the mesentery and the gastric, pancreatic and mesenteric lymph nodes; if an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary the lymph nodes shall be examined in detail;

(g) the surface of the spleen;

(h) the kidneys, which shall be palpated and, if an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary, incised; if an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary the renal lymph nodes shall be examined in detail;

(i) the pleura and the peritoneum;

(j) the genital organs of stallions and mares;

(k) the udder and the supramammary lymph nodes shall be examined and, if an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary, the supramammary lymph nodes shall be examined in detail;

(l) the umbilical region and joints of young animals which shall be palpated; where an official veterinary surgeon or inspector considers it necessary the umbilical region shall be incised and the joints shall be opened;

(m) all grey or white horses must be examined for melanosis and melanomata; in particular the muscles of one shoulder and the prescapular lymph node shall be examined; this lymph node shall be exposed beneath the scapular cartilage by loosening the attachment of one shoulder; in addition the kidneys shall be examined after splitting by a longitudinal incision which exposes both cortex and medulla.

2.  An investigation for glanders shall be carried out by means of careful examination of mucous membranes of the trachea, larynx, nasal cavities, sinuses and their ramifications, after splitting the head in the median plane and excision of the nasal septum.

3.  Where evidence of tuberculosis is found, an official veterinary surgeon or inspector shall –

(a) split the carcase, examine the vertebrae, ribs, sternum, spinal cord and brain, incise the kidneys;

(b) examine in detail such of the following lymph nodes as he has not already so examined: superficial inguinal, prescapular, prepectoral, presternal, suprasternal, xiphoid, subdorsal, intercostal, iliac, sublumbar, ischiatic, precrural and popliteal, the lymph nodes least likely in the particular case to show evidence of infection being examined first.