Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-09-15
OUR ENEMY THE COW.
DISCUSSION OF HEBREW METHODS
 OF SLAUGHTERlNG CATTLE.

Provisions of the Jewish Law as Elm
 bodied in the Torch Deah-The Differ
 ence Between ''Kosher'' and ''Trefa.'
 Selling "Trefa" Meat to Christians.
 'Our great enemy is the cow Against bel
 and her brother, the OK, the great preventa
 tive is always to boil your milk thoroughly
 and eat your meat we'll done"
 So said President Chauveau in his speech
 at the First International Tuberculosis con
 gress at Paris, as reported by cable
 In view Of the discussion by medical men
 on both sides of the Atlantic as to whether
 tuberculosis is communicated from the bo-
 vine to the human race, reporter talked
 with Dr. Frederick de Sola Mendes, of the
 Gates of Prayer Synagogue, and Chief Rabbi
 Joseph, on the Hebrew manner of slaughter ing cattle
 Dr. Mendes said: "The idea that tubercu- losis can be propagated in tho human species
 by tho consumption of the flesh of animals | suffering from disease is an old one to the sanitary legislation of our people The pro visions of the Jewish law, as embodied in ! the Torch Deah, Fare minute and cover the i details sufficiently to enable the slaughterer to decide whether the animal be has just butchered is free from all taint Il compiled chart of sixty different ap-
 Searances in the lungs of cattle-some malig- | nant, some harmless-and which are all l described in the accompanying text It is | the duty of the butcher who stays the animal | to closely examine the lungs of the carcass l and from their appearance decide whether it 1 IS free from tubercular and other taiuts It would be Impossible for the carcass of an in- fected animal to pass the inspection of a con- sclentious slaughterer and be pronounced fit for use
 Il kaow nothing of any enacments of the ! Jewish law which compels an examination or the milk ok animals suspected of tubercu- losis. Having no knowledge of the statistics as to whether Hebrews, who observe the rules, are less liable than Gentiles to tuber culosls, can give no opinion. should judge that, other things being equal, the observ- ant Jew has the benefit of his fidelity to the law Ill greater immunity from tubercular dis eases. The questions of kosher meat were discussed at length in Chicago some months ago"
 CHIEF RABBI JOSEPH.
 Chief Rabbi Jacob Joseph, at his residence said: "1 have been too busy with my mani fold duties to examine the slaughter houses or our people yet. I have examined some of the knives to see that they have no Jagged cages and are as sharp possible so as to avoid unnecessary suffering by the cattle, The law book Torch Deah, section 35. de- scribes the lungs of cattle-the lobes and the rose lobe.
 If the lobes are radically malformed we call the animal 'trefa,' or unclean, and there fore uneatable. If the external or surface tissue ot the lungs has holes in it it is a dis ease, but may be cured, but if the underly- Ing skin has holes also it is 'trefa.' Some times the holes are very small in both inte411- ments. We place the lungs in water and int1ats them through the windpipe. If there are air bubbles that shows perforation. Tba Iobes of the lung must not be adherent to the body of the animal or each other: that shows that there are holes and pus has gen. eraVed, thereby causing this sticking to- gether. This is 'trefa.' If the outer skin is hard and leathery it is 'trefa' If the lungs cannot be easily inflated and fall together that shows inflammation and consequent fill ing up of the bronchial tubes. This disease is curable"
 Alter death how can you tell whether the sickness was curable" asked the reporter.
 we put the lungs into water in all doubt 1ul cases for twenty-four hours. We then 1ntiate them, and if they come up as in nor nal condition the animal was curable and therefore eatable. If there are waterv pus- jules on the outward skin it is curable, but ln the case of continent pustules it is trefa' and not kosher If there are black stains on the outer skin of the lung it is strefa.' but if white stains, 'kosher;' if yellow stains 'trefa; if blue, kosher
 ''Now to milk While the COW is alive it cannot be discerned whether the milk is l unhealthy except the animal has the foot l and mouth disease. The milk of such COW is | forbidden; also the butter and cheese made rom her milk. Dropsy as a result of dis | ease is chronic in cattle and in man. If the flesh of such cattle be consumed the infec- | tion is naturally absorbed"
 THE HEALTH BOARD RESPONSIBLE
 "Wha becomes of the animals that are l and are not kosherY"
 "As long as the board of health permits the sale of the cattle we can sell it to Chris tians and others If Christians want to buv kosher meat of us we arc bound to sell it to them. The law says so. If the Christian asks Tor kosher meat and Is given diseased meat the Hebrew commits sin"
 Do you think that Hebrews suffer more from tuberculosis than Christiansp
 "Unlversal statistics show that the He brews suffer less from lung disease than any other race. They certainly suffer less from lung disease than any other race from sick ness caused by eating diseased meat The general health of the Hebrews is excellent, Our law does not designate any disease which comes from cattle that man can be inocu- | lated with.
 As rule Hebrews soak meat in water for half an hour after purchasing it, and then salt it for an hour. This is considered a san- ltary measure Shell fish-oysters, crabs, lobsters-are not eaten by the orthodox Jews"
 Dr. NJ. G. Dadirrian, a native of Asia Minor, but now practicing in New York, said to reporter:
 The subject of tuberculosis is one of great interest to me, as it must be to every medical man After receiving my education in the University Medical college in this city twenty years ago, returned to my home and prac- hced ln Asia Minor three years, and in Con twelve years. I may say that lad very large practice, but being Chris