The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1854-03-08
Hog Killing in oiucinnati.

Hog Killing In Cincinnati. I,
We spent couple hours the last week
n January, in witnessing the process of
lilling aud dressing hogs, according to
he most approved plan, at one OF the
House, Cincinnati. The building and its
appurtenences are calculated for despatch
ing isoo thousand hogs per day; and at the
ratio the bloody work was done while we
were present, that number would be done
up in less than eight working hours! The
process is as follows:
The hogs being confined in pens ada
cent, are driven, about 90 at a time up an
inclined bridge or passage opening by a
doorway at the top into square room just
large enough to hold them; and as soon
a. the outside door is closed, man en-.
tsrs from an inside door, and with ham
mer oi about two pounds weight and
three feet length Of handle, by a single
blow aimed between the eyes, knocks
each hog down so that scarce squeal
or . grunt is uttered. In the mean time
., second apartment adjoining this is be.
ing filed; so the process continues. Next
q. couple Of men seize the stunned ones
by the legs and drag them through the
inside doorway on to the bleeding plat.
form, whore each receives thrust of a
keen knife in the throat, and a torrent of
blood runs through the lattice floor.
Alter bleeding for a minute or two. they
are slid off this platform directly into the
scalding vat, which is about 90 feet long,
6 wide, and 8 deep, kept full of water
heated by steam, and SO arranged that
the temperature is easily regulated. The
hogs being slid into one end Of this vat,
are pushed slowly along, by men stand
ing sen each side with short poles, turn
ing them over so as to secure uniform
scaldiHg, and moving them onward so
that each one will reach the opposite end
Of the vat in about 2 minutes from the
time L entered. About 10 hogs are usu-
ally passing through the scalding process
at one time.
At the exit end Of the vat is contri-
vance for lifting them out Of the scald-
ing water, two at time, unless quite
large, by the power of one man opera.
tina . lever. which elevates them to the
scraping table. This table is about, 5
iass. wide and 25 long, and has 8 or 8
men arranged on each side, and usually
~ m4ny hogs on It at q time. each pair
III mes1 performing separate part Of
ske eprt n removing the bristles and hair.
Thus lie frst pair Of men remove the
Uri5Il6s tnlys sach ts are worth saving
5 ~ NOM 66tstS, nkin9 only a double
IA W (lis ttpk of each hog. which
IA mi Ks k6frels az box. The
8 = i 100 S;;gen & single turn. onward
g ~ pain IN With SCRAP pers remove
j ~ Mir Rom on6 6flide, then turn il over
q IL hext pair who scrapes the other
i1q, ihe next scraPes the head and legs,
(Sonext shave one side with sharp knives,
z ~ next do the same 10 the other side.
md the next the head and legs; and each
pair OF men have to perform their part
of the work in only tweive seconds OF
time, or al the rate Of fpe hogs in min
ate, for 8 or 4 hours at time!
Arrived at the end OF this table. with
the hair all removed, q pair Of men put
in the gambril stick and swing the car
oass off on the whecl. This wheel is
about 10 feet in diameter, and revolves
on perpendicular shaft reaching from
ahe fioor 10 the ceiling; the height Of the
wheel being about feet from the floor.
Around its periphery are placed 8 large
hooks, about feet apart, on which the
hogs are hung to be dressed; and here
sKain We find remarkable dispatch Sc.
cared by the division of labor, As soon
~ the hog is swung from the table on
to one Of these hooks the wheel is given
= turn one.eighth of its circuit, which
brings the next hook to the table and car
siss the hog distance of feet, where
Z coupie sot men stand ready to dash on
Il . bncket Of clean water, and scrape i,
down with knives, 10 remove the loose
hairs and dirt that may have come from
shs table. The next move Of the wheel
carries il A feet further, where another
man cuts open the hog almost in a sin
gIs second Of time, and removes the large
dntes|ines or such as have no fat on them
worth saving, and throws them out an
open doorway by his side; another move
.of 4 feet carries il TO the next man who
iilis out the remainder of the intestines,
the heart, liver; DO. and throws them on
TO large table behind him. where or s
snsn are engaged in separating the fal
and other parts of value; another move
and man dashes bucket OF clean water
inside, and washes off any filth or blood
that may be seen; this completes the
cleaning or dressing process, and each
man At the wheel has TO perform his par
81 the work in twelve seconds of time
% there are only Ave hogs at once hang.
ing on the wheel, and this number are
removed and as many added euery minute
The number OF men employed. besides
drivers outside is fifty; so that each man
may be said to kill and dress one hog
every ten minutes of working time, OF
forty ia . day. This presents striking
contrast with the manner that farmer.
commonly do their .hog killing
rAi ithe last move oil the wheel stou
l6lIow shoulders the carcase (while an.
other removes the gambril sticky and
backs Il of to the other part Of the house
whore they are hung up for "a hours -to
cool. on hooks placed in rows on each
side Of the beams just over mans head
Here are space and hooks sufficient fol
5000 hogs, or a full days work at killing
The next day, or when cool, they are
4 IL