The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-03-28
TIL. mo,nic Way of Butchering.

A Hebrew rabbi sets apart a man call
ed n shochet (or as many as are requlr-
cdr to kill animals. He has-this exclu.
siye duty, His is distinct Office or
profession. He must undergo an ex-
animation and obtain certificate OF
qualifications. This done, he must be
snpplied' with his implements. For
slaug entering cattle this is knife with
n blade about eighteen inches long anu
one and a quarter broad. In shape IT
resembles thin bladed corn cutter. 1t
Is of the purest silver steel. No spot or
blemish is permitted to stain its FURNISH
ed surface. The edge must be sharp,
keen. and unbroken by the minutest
nick. One of the qualifications OF
shochet is the skill TO keep his knife in
order. Any bstcher who wishes to sell
ksscher meat must employ shochet to
be present at the slaughtering and to
slay, inspect and seal the meat. he
travels q sort of circuit, which includes
several slaughter houses. His compen-
sation is per capita and to be paid by
the butchers.
Let ms take look at this officer upon
the duties of his office. He steps into
q slaughter-house bearing with him his
knife, inclosed in long wooden box.
The victim for slaughter is driven In.
If it be bullock, or large animal, n
running moose is thrownsaround one
hind leg. In this moose hook is placed,
which terminates q rope which swings
down from an axle high over head. BY
means of ropes aud pulleys the animal
is suspended in the air except the head,
which rests on the floor, throat upward.
The shochet approaches with drawn
knife; With bis left hand be lays hold of
the animals throat. With peculiar
saving sweep, executed too rapidly TO
be followed by the eye, his right hand
lays the animals neck open nearly to
the cervical vertebTn. The animal IL
left to bleed. The mode of the stroke
is prescribed even to the number OF
sweeps Of the blade. A stroke Is not
permitted, for the reason that 1T Is be-
Geyed to prevent the freest flow OF the
blood, which is the chief object to be
attained. Pbe next duty of the shochet
is to examine the lungs of the animal.
IL these are grown together on to the
sides, or are in any way diseased, the
animal is rejected, and another one
ia brought to the stables. If the lungs
stands the test, the shoohet stands ~
and sees the bullock dressed, Which
affords him an opportunity for further
inspection. If he finds in any part OF
she animal blemish, he condemns
tho carcass. His final duty is to atfix
peculiar waxen 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 light 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 toprivate houses where his services
are required, 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-the
head must NOS be severed from the body.
The officer who does this for wealthy
congregation receives a yearly stlpend
of twenty-five to seyenty-fye dollars
from each household, according to the
amount OF duty required OF MIN. FoOr
families pay FIVE cents, or such small
sums as they can afford, for each bird
killed for them.
The object eff this mode of slaughter
ing and inspecting is two-fold. The
animal must be slain with the greatest
comfors to itself consistent with the
operation. The health of the consumer
is the chief object in view of which
this method is pCacticed. Blood is con
sidered unwholesome. In thorough
ness and adequacy no other mode o.. iu-
spection equals this. If affords a 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 Asiatic cholera TO
London, the Hebrew population escaped
almost entirely unscathed by the
scourge, while all other classes were
falling before it like the leaves of an
autumn forest. In crowded cities visit
cd by any sort of pestilence, they have
enjoyed remarkable exemption from
its rayages. When the cattle plague