Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-04-29
CATTLE TRANSFORMATIONS.

A bill originally drawn by Ex-Chief Justice
George T. Bigelow of this State has lately
passed the House of Representatives in Con-
gress, covering the principal provisions in
the Massachusetts, law, limiting the number
of hours during which cattle may be confined
in cars, and requiring that they be furnished
rest, food and water at certain intervals. Mr..
George 7. Angel, president of the Massa-
chusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty
to Animals, has just written an essay on this
subject, the substance Of which we give be.
low.
This essay is fnll of we'll authenticated
facts OF public Importance, some of which we
give in condensed form. Cattle carried from
Texas to New Orleans on steamers, are from
three to six days crowded under decks. with
out food or water and with poor ventilation.
Out of hundred and fifty shipped on one
steamer, about forty died on the passage.
From New Orleans or Red River, up the
Mississippi, they are carried with like cruel
/ ty. 1t is common to throw overheard the
dead cattle each morning. Transportation by
way of Kansas to Chicago is little. if any,
better. At Chicago they are rested few
hours, then forced, by the use of goads, into
|
space to the animal and sometimes smaller
animals are forced under them.
/ A hundred calves usually crowded into a
single car, and two hundred sheep or swine is
about the average. In this way they are
brought to eastern cities, enduring such suf.
ering from want of food, water and rest thai
many die, and others are taken out almos
dead, having in the words of the Massachu
sets Railroad Commissioners, Suffered al
that animals can suffer and live" The re-
> suits are .shrinkage Of weight on animals
that come through alive varying from 100 :t
200 pounds per animal, damage to hides
amounting, in the case of two firms men.
), toned to over $4,000 per annum, and q
great depreciation in the value of the meat.
It's estimated that the loss in 1869, by shrink
g age alone, on cattle alone, shipped east from
Chicago. amounted to ut least 90, All 700
pounds Of beef.
Mr.. Angel cites long list of sanitary and
medical authorities, to show that the meats of
animals so transported endanger the public
health, producing diseases in many well-a
thenticated cases.
1t appears also from various reliable au
thorities quoted, including DR.. Derby of the
Massachusetts State Board of Health, that it
is almost impossible to detect in the markets
the meats of diseased animals, and the only
safety consists in their inspection, as in
I European cities, before they are killed, and
the inspection of their internal organs imme-
diately after killing
After describing the various forms of stock
cars, with their advantages and objections.
Mr. Angel proceeds to discuss the remedy;
which consists first, in the enactment and en-
| forcement of certain laws specified, which
shall lead railroad corporations to adopt some
one Of the forms of improved stock car, and
tse use o. wsi,taa9 - s'9ows u i! he alike Yr0f-
table to tie corporations, the cattle dealers,
and consumers.
In conclusion, Mr.. Angel insists upon the
Importance here, as in continental European
cities, of protection against diseased meats
by careful inspection of animals slaughtered
in the neighborhood Of our great cities. - Dos
ton Transcript.