The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-01
s7oy to Have Coed EcrG.

T. n" Baltimore Nuf:
\ large portion of the beef cattle that s,l?-
NIX the Baltimore market, come from several
hundred miles distant iii railroad cars. pro-
cr,i 10 recount what | conceive 10 be some
al, the incidents connected with these cattle
Gurin,r their transit, and the Consequences
thereof:
During their entire Journey they are SlIl-
i,rt 10 various hIrdShipS. which, collectively,
are injurious in 4 high degree to their health
and Wr.l-bcing.
Ih,v ar" in constant state Of iC.T and
ncryou. excitement, and are forced to sub
lAit TO mwholcsomr restraints by blows in-
f'i"tcd with sticks in the hands Of numerous
surrounding persons. These sticks, instead
"t being whips, approach nearly to the
dimensions Of clubs. adapted to bcatln" and
hrU>tjn@ rather tlim whipping, and their
weight. and the force with which they are
applied, are such as 10 cs.llsc bloodShot or
Ean@rcnc condition of the flesh. These im-
pl~ncnts are used OIL repeated occasions 10
force the frightened beasts into and out Of the
ears. yards, lanes, wcigll-Scales, and III divi-
ding them into lois to suit purchasers.
Th" persons conducting these operations,
intent on their purpose, are not Spalln% "s
to the frequency and weight OF their blows
ur energy OF their thruSts. The poor beast,
IN addition to the pain he suffers i,y the first
inlliction Of blows, is made the more sore
aud sensitive by each successive beating,
until the pain resulting from the accumu-
Lated bruises and soreness must be intcnsc
and cruel in the extreme. III addition to
This the cattle are SO thickly packed into the
ears rs to barely leave standing room. The
,,l.!ocatin" effect Of this is sHch Is to bc
highly detrimental 10 health even i'll tcm-
l,,'ratc weather. and how much more is their
discomfort when so arranged during summer
beat.
In this condition they are Swayed heavily
a.~tlil>t each other and against the sides OF the
,,rS. hv the oscillations incident to rapid rail-
rtd travel. In addition to the bruises and
wounds received is the constant strain upon
o." nerves. The cattle are moreover sub
''ctcd 10 Great prirations for want oi food,
wN"r, and rest. Goadcd II frenzy by this
:"',:lnulation Of ills, they fight and hook each
otlcr. and thus add to their sad condition.
hud what i their condition on arriving in
Baltimore: Famishing from want OF food,
wafer, and rest, bruised, sore, weak, and
ttiat decidedly mwell, with Shrunkcn car
,.,>es. dcbilitated nervous systems, dera ngcd
organs and functions Of life, and in 4 very
depressed state of vitality, little, il any thing.
F'tt VI i4>t,'>tis iblit tiil IL a'u'' Nt'SH ii"'
stop here. 70 swell the owners profit, they
"re for 4 considerable time prevented from
pucnching their burning thirst, and then
6o>cd with ali unwholeSo,ne amount Ofsaltto
,nduce thcmto drink an injurious quantity of
water, which is given to the cattle just before
being put upon the scales to be weighed of to
Tie purchaser. This excessive quantity of salt
i>Iorccdupon i the cattle by mixing it with their
Irod. They are thus obliged TO take it or re-
l"tt the food. Now al these various abuses
arc Strikingly manifest in the gat,nt, slriv-
"'icd form and dropping spirits OF the cattle.
They fall OF materially in weight during
hi. hard treatment, and continue to diminish
III bulk for many weeks under the best treat
mcnt, and return to their normal condition
Of health and spirits very slowly, and only
'rillaencc 10 increase in weight after several
months of good treatment.
Now, submit to the consideration Of the
community whether cattle arriving in our
city in the condition above stated are in Il
proper state to produce wholesome beef fer
oar tables, without allowing sufficient time
Tor their recovery TO health before they are
slaughtered! Nothing can be more objec-
iIonaDic as food than the flesh oc animals not
n good health. Our instincts revolt at the
bare idea, and medical science confirms the
decision prompted BY intuition.
Anottfsr Of the occurrences resulting from
the practices here cited is the following |
Where cattle are to be weighed TO the pur- |
chaser while alive, the purchaser selects those
which will yield him the greatest weight of
kIieable nmterial in proportion TO the gross