Special Operations Forces Medical Handbook

5-126

Vet Medicine Procedure: Postmortem Exam

MAJ Joseph Williamson, VC, USA

When: Examine animal carcasses immediately after slaughter and evisceration for possible lesions that
indicate unsuitability of meat for consumption. Examine all parts of the carcass. The following guidelines
are for any species that may be consumed in the field environment. Avoid introducing external contamination
to the carcass.

What You Need: Gloves, sharp knife

What To Do: Examine:

1. General: Condemn animals with gross contamination of interior surfaces or organ systems and/or
   discoloration of peritoneal or pleural cavities. Generalized abscesses, emaciation, and jaundiced organs
   or tissues are reasons for condemnation. Localized lesions are acceptable but generalized conditions
   are not. Consider acute disease processes vs. chronic processes. Lymphadenopathy indicates disease or
   inflammation in the area drained by the enlarged nodes. Local adenopathy may indicate a local process
   only (condemn only affected area), while more extensive adenopathy probably implies widespread disease
   process.


2. Head: Inspect for swelling or firm masses along jaw or face. Palpate and examine lymph nodes of the
   head and neck for gross swellings or lesions.


3. Viscera: Palpate and examine the lymph nodes. Inspect and palpate all surfaces for abnormalities,
   discoloration, masses and parasites; examine the heart, lungs and diaphragm as well. Slice open organs
   and examine for parasites, infection or disease states such as tumors. NOTE: Examine viscera away from
   the carcass to avoid contamination.


4. Joints and Skeletal Muscles: Bruises and localized lesions may be removed and the rest of the carcass
   consumed. For arthritic and swollen joints, remove affected limb, and then consume carcass if arthritis is
   not due to systemic disease such as septicemia or caseous (cheese-like) lymphadenitis. Do not consume
   broken or mangled limbs.


5. Neoplasia, Tumors or Abnormal Growths: Condemn organ system and/or carcass if spread throughout.


6. Off Odors: Condemn carcass with strong odors of urine, ketones (a fruity smell) or pungent sexual odors.

What Not To Do: DO NOT consume organs that appear discolored. DO NOT consume the liver if it
appears spotty, discolored, or friable (crumbly).
REMEMBER: Systemic illness and internal disease states may not be evident on antemortem exam, therefore
postmortem exam is a necessity when an animal is from an unknown or non-approved source.

Vet Medicine: Food Storage and Preservation

MAJ Joseph Williamson, VC, USA

When: The easiest way to avoid food-borne illnesses in a field environment is to immediately consume
well-cleaned and cooked foodstuffs. When excess food must be stored and preserved for future use, follow
these rules: preserve and store only wholesome foods that were initially safe to eat; use only potable
water and spices when curing or preserving food; cold storage/freezing is the best method if available;
periodic re-examination of stored products is essential to ensure wholesomeness and prevent consumption
of contaminated or deteriorated food (moldy, infested, stale). Avoid food- and water-borne diseases through
continuous use of these guidelines.

What You Need: Knife, meat, potable water, salt, 1% salt solution (brine), string, green hardwoods, building,
saltpeter (potassium nitrate), spices, fire source, hay, salt box and/or brine pan, boiling pot.

What To Do: