Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-04-07
The Mosaic Way Of Butchering.

The Mosaic Way Of Butchering.
A MODE Of butchering-ancient, unique,
supported by large class, and tor which
those who sanction it claim great advan-
tages, is in vogue in Cincinnati, and in
most great cities. Hanging out in front
of certain meat stores is card on which
are Hebrew letters 1t announces kosch-
ner, which is meat butchered and inspect
ed after the manner prescribed first by
Moses, the great Hebrew lawgiver, then
modified to the present mode nearly two
thousand years ago. There is in its pre-
paration no longer any religious meaning.
It is sanitary measure, pure and simple
nothing less, and not whit more. A
Hebrew rabbi sets apart man called q
Shochet Tor as many as are required) to
kill animals. He has this exclusive duty
His is distinct office or profession. He
must undergo an examination, and obtain
a certificate of qualifications. This done,
he must be supplied with his implements.
For slaughtering cattle this is a knife with
a blade about eighteen inches long and
one and quarter broad. In shape it re-
sembles a thin .bladed corn cutter. 1t
is of the purest silver steel. No
spot or blemish is permitted to stain its
FURNISHED surface. The edge must be
sharp. keen and unbroken by the minut-
est nick. One of the qualifications of.
shochet is the skill to keep his knife in
order. Any butcher who wishes to sci
koschner must employ shochet to be
present at the slaughtering, and to slay,
inspect and seal the meat. He travels
sort Of circuit, which includes several
slaughter houses. His compensation is
per capita, and is paid by the butchers.
Let us take look at this officer upon
the duties of his Office. He steps into
slaughter house, bearing with him his
knife, inclOsed in long wooden box. The
victim for slaughter is driven IN. Ii 1t be
a.bullock, or large animal, running
moose is thrown around one hind leg. In
this moose hook is placed, which termi-
mates rope which swings down from an
axle placed high over head. BY means
of ropes and pulleys the animal is sns-
pended in the air, except the head, which
rests on the floor, throat upward: The
shochet approaches with drawn knife, with
his left hand he lays hold OF the animals
throat With a peculiar saving sweep,
executed too rapidly to be followed by the
eye, his right hand lays the animals neck
open nearly to tire cervical vertrebrP. The
animal is left to bleed. The mode OF the
stroke is prescribed even to the number OF
sweeps Of the blade. A strote is not per
mitted for the reason that it is believed to
prevent the freest flow OF the blood, which
is the chief object to be attained. The next
duty of the shochet is to examine the
lungs of the animal If these are grown
together on to the sides, or are in any
way diseased, the animal is rejected and
another one is brought to the shambles.
If the lungs stand the test the shochet
stands by and sees the bullock dressed,
which affords him opportunity for further
inspection. If he finds in any part OF the
animal a blemish, he condemns the carcass.
His final duty is to affix peculiar wsxen
seal or stamp, bearing Hebrew device,
to several parts Of the dressed carcass. He
is required not on any account to absent
himself during the dressing OF the carcass.
Sheep and lign. animals of the cattle
kind are suspended by the heels, and slain
in the way above described. The shochet
whose duty it is to kill poultry goes to
private houses where his services are re-
uuired. His knife, too, must be evenly
sharp, and he must use all the precautions
required in the slaughter OF cattle. The
bird is suspended head downward to
facilitate the free flow Of blood. The
cutting must be according to the formula
laid down by ancient custom. Only the
throat is cut--thc head must not be severed
from the body The officer who does this
for a wealthy congregation, receives
yearly stipend of $25 to $75 from each
household, according to the amount OF
duty required of him. Poor families pay
five cents, or such small sums as they can
afford, for each bird killed for them.
The object of this mode of slaughtering
and inspecting is two fold. The animal
must be slain with the greatest comfort to
itself consistent wit the operation. The
health of the consumer is the chief object
in view of which this method is practiced.
Blood is considered unwhOlesOme. In thor
oughness and adequacy no other mode OF
inspection equals this 1t affords GER
tainty of securing wholesome meat, and
gives perfect protection against being
imposed upon, in purse or health,
by the flesh of diseased animals. During
the last visitation of the Asiatic cholera TO
London, the Hebrew population escaped
almost entirely unscathed by the scourge,
while all other classes were falling before
il like the leaves Of an autumn forest. In
crowded cities visited by any sort OF pesti-
lence, they have enjoyed remarkable ex-
emption from its ravages. When the cat
tie plague ragged in the Western States,
only couple of years ago, they enjoyed
immunity from the effects Of eating un-
sound meat. The Hebrew today Pounds
his objection to the use Of pork on his re-
garding it as unwholesome. The result is
almost total escape from trichina. !.
No rule limits any Hebrew to the use OF
meat slain and inspected as we have de.
scribed. Some disregard it, and use pork
or other meats not so inspected, but the
number is small. The greater portion
conscientiously adhere to the exclusive
use Of koschner meat. Many who are
not Hebrews use exclusively meat butch.
cred and inspected in the Hebrew man
uer.-Gneinn0ti Gazette.
There are IA, 69s dogs in Iowa.