The Evening critic., 1881-06-15

Mr.. Ball, special agent of the Society for
the Prevention of Cruelty 60 Animals in the
District addressed the following letter to
DR. Bergh ON the 9th inst;
Hon. Henry Bergh:
SIR: Please pardon my addressing you for
information ON the following subject, but as
il is one in which not merely the humane,
but all who cat animal food are interested,
l feel assured you will see the Importance of
having the very best authority obtainablc on
the questions involved.
There is an almost universal practice here
and suppose elsewhere, among the butchers
that Is TO take the calves they are preparing
for market, twenty-iour hours before they
are to be killed, and bleed them until they
faint or fall from exhaustion. Some of our
butchers treat all of the cattle and sheep
they kill in like manner.
The reason given for this practice is that
the meat is rendered whittier, more salablc,
and can be kept longer without spelling.
Now the question t. whether or not the
meat ofan uiIimal thus tortured aud terri
fled by the requisite handling, cutting and
sight and smell of blood, and kept in this
sick and half-dcad condition, is not rendered
thereby less wholesome for food than il
would be If taken in perfect health
aud killed instantly.
Your views on this subject are earnestly
desired by our society.
Very respectfully, &C.,
ROBERT BALL,
Special Agent.
The following was the response:
Mr. Robert Ball:
DEAR SIR: The subject of your commune
cation of the 9th instant is one which affects
the moral and sanitary well-being of all
classes of citizens, and hence should be thor
Oughly ventilated.
When it is known that the operation OF
bleeding calves is carried Oh in secret, il
must be apparent to all right-thinking pco
pie that the operators fear the consequence:
of their act if the modus opodndi was gene
rally understood.
To torture helpless, unoilcnding littlt
creatures slowly to death for pecuniary nd
vantages is simply cowardly and heartless
and he who partakcs of food thus tortured
and tormented does not realize the amount
of suffering caused to the innocent purveyol
to his appetite.
The blood Of an animal is as much par
of the meat as the fibre ITSELF and if one il
hcalthful to cat so is the other.
The practice of bleeding is barbarous an,
cruel, and, as you observe, is on the increase
and serves to demonstrate what our boastf,l
civilization is capable of.
1t is needless to hope for the total abolition
of the savage and degrading habit of killing
and devouriug dumb and unoilending ami
mails, SO we can only strive TO amcliorat
their suherings through the law and publ
opinion. As if the thought of aspeedy dealt
is not sufficient, the consumer of anima
flesh has upon his conscience the fact tina
he is an acconplice in the bloody tragedy
Every effort has been mady by this SC
cicty and kindred organizations to supprcs
this needless and cruel practice, but up to TIL
present time without success, for, like unit
the days of the dark ages, the victim an
the cxecutioncr are the only ones present i
the torture chambcr-onc soon to be silencc
by death, the other silent through fear d
being condemned by the voice of an out
ragged public and punished as a violator O
the laws Of the State. Respectfully,
HENRY BERGH Prcs't.