Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-30

for an attempt TO eradicate the disease. There
is some reason to believe that rats freQuenting
hog pens are often its conveyance and that we
need some "Pied Piper of Hamelin'' to drive
them all into the sea- Cobbold says infection
must be due to the facilities for swallowing gar
bage, especially dead rats. 1t is an established
fact OF natural history that hogs are notify ma
ture filthy in their habits or In their choice or
food. If mankind thrust upon them all sorts
of improper food, all the indignation must not
be projected against the brute treatise on
the hygienic management or swine is in order.
especially as they have become subjected to
such invasions
All serious diseases which are either directly
transmissable to man, or which by the diseased
or imperfect meat and milk they put on the
market. or by the actual loss of food supply
they occasion, must attract the attention or
al sanitarians.
And as our foreign trade is being so much
affected. both in the Interests Of health and Of
commerce, We should join in consultation and
advice with those who have to guard our COM
mereial and national interests.
We may call it prejudice or retaliation, and
to some extent correct the distorted views of
some OF our British and continental friends,
but so long as there is basis of truth it be-
hooves us, beth in our home and foreign inter-
estsSto do all that is intelligent and practi-
cable in STAN ping cut or limiting these dis
eases.
For this we have few suggestions to make:
l. There is need Of accurate study into
causes as well as into methods of limitation.
Our government has done some good work in
the way OF investigation, and the present dis
tinguisbed head Of the Agricultural Depart
ment, DR.. Loring. is by profession, agricultural
knowledge.and executive experience, well fitted
to do more.
There are some veterinarians that are at
work but the number OF these is small, and it
is difficult to find enough others who are capa-
BILE.
We feel that medical men and others Of this
association should feel these Investigations to
be as worthy OF their labor as those directed to
niCAaCaC hoC
when medical and sanitary experts should re-
cognize the study of the comparative plaques
as part of their work and devote the closest
study thereto.
III. Some form Of direct oversight should be
exercised in every State over the communica-
BILE diseases of animals. There is no more
economical outlay than that which guards our
milk and meat supply. An authority in every
State to oversee the work and to circulate in
formation among farmers and stock raisers, 20
obtain knowledge through local township COM
mittees. supervisors or health boards OF special
outbreaks and to secure from assessors exact
statements each year OF all deaths and known
causes of deaths of animals would be of essen
tial service. Thus infected districts would soon
be singled out and the diseases ere long eradi-
Gated. In Germany microScopical examina-
ton of pork has been m de compulsory.
Ill Public abattoirs aud inspection thereat
should be encouraged.
w All live stock sent out of the country
should be inspected at the point of final ship
mezt by a government veterinary Inspector.
v Pork packing and smoking establishments
should guarantee their methods and be subject
10 penalty il the meats furnished by them
are proven to have caused disease Trade
marks and brands are easily made and severe
penalties to producers for any meat that is
proved to have caused sickness is one of the
best precautions 1t will then be the interest
of large est tAblishments to protect themselves
by sampling lots with the microscope and by
other expert examinations
VI A system of inspection is disirable, but
we do not wholly rely upon it, as being exceed
iugly expensive, and as not alone accomplish
ing as much as when conjoined with other
methods.
VII. All wholesale lots OF chopped meats or
sausage or of potted meats should be certified
by competent meat inspectors.
Wit. 1t should be known that thorough salt
parasites. Virchow, in treating Of this disease,
expresses his regret that the old forms of cur
ing and smoking have had so many subSti-
tuteS
TX careful inquiries should be made as to
the presence of parasites in fats, and as to the
fats Of diseased meats, lest lard and o'eomar-
garins. ct cetera, may be so prepa'ed as not to
be subjected TO proper heat, and our risks be
increased in this direction.
Ia view, therefore. of the vast interests In
volved to health, not less than to commerce,
we trust this association will direct still more
careful attention TO the communicable diseases
of AMI ais, and seek to find their causes, and
arrest their courses, since be 1t man or beast IL
is common concern in a common welfare.
We append the appr aximate summary of the
last census of all live stock in the States and
Territories as found on farms or with those
owning land. The aggregate shows a yearly
product of one hundred million, IL we estimate
all, used as food:
FOOD STOCK IN THE UNITED STATES.