The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-03
OUR PORCINE PRODUCTS.
The Message to Congress from the PresideIi
Regarding the American Hog.

The Message to Congress from the President
Regarding the American Hog.
WASHINGTON, March 1.-The President to
day. transmitted to the House report of the
commission appointed to examine into the con
dition of swine products in this country. In his
message of transmittal he says
''The views and conclusions of the commits
sion deserve the most careful consideration of
Congress, to the end that if any path be egiti-
mately open for removing the prohibition
which closes important foreign markets to
those products it may be followed and appro-
pirate legislation devised. l earnestly recon-
mend that Congress provide for rembursing the
expenses incurred by the commissioners in this
praiseworthy SERVICE and l should be glad
also, II some remunerative recognition of their
public-spirited action in accepting the oner-
Gus and responsible duties imposed upon
them were to suggest itself to Congress. At
all events, in view Of the conflicting theories
touching the origin and propagation of trichinia-
sis and the means of extirpating it among do
mestic swine, and of considering the important
bearing which precise knowledge on these
points would have on the commercial aspects of
the matter, | recommend provision for special
research in this direction"
The Secretary of State also transmits com
municatOn on the subject in which he saws:
''The report is thorough and impartial to a de-
gree which cannot fail to commend it to public
consideration here and abroad" He says that
the report shows conclusively that hog cholera
is not present in meat packed for human food
and in no event is the disease communicated 10
human beings As 10 tr1ehlnlaSlS the report
is less conclusive, bevauzo less is
certainly known of the manner in
which living triehin9 or their germs are trans
mitted He advises further investigation on this
point 1t is known, however, he says, that the
processes of packing and the time between the
slaughter of an animal and the consumption of
prepared flesh abroad so diminish the vitality
and propagative power of trchin9 as to prevent
its development in the human body. No single
instance, based upon competent scientific testi-
mony, can be adduced Of trichiniass in Europe
arising from the use of American packed swine
products. Il. every single case in Germany it
has been found that the disease is traceable to
the consumption of freshly killed native
hogs, and that its virulence diminishes with
the lapse Of time between the killing and con
sumption. In speaking of the objections to
the inspection of meat, the secretary says that
there does not seem to be any objection in prin-
cple to such inspection whenever it may be re-
quired. When government imposes upon the
importation of foreign products no more re
strictons than those imposed upon native
products, conformity with those conditions is
requisite and reasonable If home inspection,
with due certifcatIon, will open foreign mar
kets for our swine products, it will certainly
pay the American exporter to submit to an in
spection.
In conclusion the Secretary urges Congress to
pay the expenses incurred by the commission,
and also to give some compensation for the time
devoted by them to the subject. He also recon-
mends that an appropriation be madeto to continue
the investigation.