The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-06
TRICHINA.
THE SORT OF MEATS THE PEG
PIE HAVE BEEN GETTING
"A BIT OF ANTI-BREAK-
FAST READING.
DR.. Burk's Report to the City COun-
cil-SOme Notable Sugges-
lions on the Subject.

For some time there have been a
number of reports rife in this city that
certain butchers had been kill
ing and selling to their
customers diseased meats
and not little anxiety has been felt
upon the question by many of the
people of Austin. The city has here
tofore been without any protection
of this kind, and instances have been
reported where butchers when they
had hogs or cattle taken sick
would kill them as soon as 1.-THE dis
ease was discovered, and put the
meat upon the market
TO BE EATEN.
Some time ago STATESMAN repre-
sentative Investigated the extent to
which this was carried on and the re-
suits of his Investigations were some
what startling. Of course it is not an
easy thing to get at the exact facts
relating to such a matter, but enough
was learned to show that great impo-
sition had been practiced in some in
stances; but as the matter was fully
reported at the time it will not be en-
larged upon at this time. Monday
night the city physician presented the
following document on this vital
question,
THE DOCUMENT.
GENTLEMEN I wish to call your
attention to the following facts and
recommendation in reference to the
meats sold from day to day to the cit
liens of Austin. 1t is fact that the
people have now no protection against
the use of diseased and unhealthy
meats. There is no ordinance, or law,
or management in this city, to pre-
vent a man killing diseased animals
cow, sheep, or hog-and selling them
to whom he pleases. The animal may
die of some acute disease and be
quickly prepared for market,
SOLD TO THE PEOPLE,
producing in them. it may be, disease
or death. 1t is known that cattle fire.
quently have pleuro-pneumonia, con-
sumption and scrofula-that hogs
have scrofula, abcesses and inflam-
nation of the liver, stomach and
bowels; that cattle are frequently
confined in pens for many days without
food or water, and when the meat is
feverish and the animal is dying from
inanition the butcher prepares the
meat for market and his patrons re.
ceive the benefits. Any man so dis
posed can butcher and bring to market
and sell to the people meat from fat
and poor animals; from those suffering
from Infectious and infiamm atory di-
seases; from those with
DISEASED AND PP,HrEr-HI .LIII:lJ;
iroiu those whose bodies have in them
the seeds of consumption, scrofula
etc., etc. The man or child who eats
the meat may not then be affected
but the seeds may terminate and
bring it's fruits in after months, or
even years, the suffering and death OF
the party be but the legitimate re-
suits of eating the diseased and in.
fectuous meats. There is actually nc
protection to our people from this
dangerous practice. The honest
butcher has no protection from his
dishonest and INSCRIPTIONS neighbor
and he must compete with him in
prices or lose his patrons and his bust
ness.
THE HONEST BUTCHER
wants such protection, and will favor
any equitable law that will accom-
plish the ends so much desired. Will
the city council protect the people
against the evil complained of, and
protect the honest butcher in selling
sound and healthy fresh meats AS
practical solution of this question
would respectfully recommend the
following arrangement : LIST. To es-
tablish a city Strengthening house. at
which every animal, whose meat is
intended for the people of Austin
should be inspected and pronounced
| 6sa1c hn ofe,c oh l.
inspected after being dressed and
ready for sale, and pronounced whole
some and free from disease by the in
nished by the city. I'd. Make it a
misdemeanor to sell or offer to sell
fresh meats within the city limits
without having been inspected and
stamped as provided for in first sec
ton. Sd. For the privileges of the
slaughtering house and the assistance
given by the
INSPECTOR AND TWO BUTCHERS
to be furnished by the city, it should
be the duty of the inspector to collect
for each animal slaughtered and in
spected as provided for, the following
amounts Beef cattle, $1.00 each
hogs, CALVES, goats and sheep, 25 cents
each. 4th, This would be no hard
ship on the butcher, for 1t would be
less than he can procure the same
amount of work for now. The
slaughtering house wouiG be kept
clean, and the meats would be clean,
and the citizens would, to some ex-
tent, at least, be protected against
diseases and unhealthy meats. All of
which is respectfully submitted.
W. j. BURT, M. D.,
Gitv Dhvcioian and hoaIth officor