St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-09-28
"DEATH In THE POTn

The decisions of courts in this state
that have had occasion to pass upon the
meat inspection law indicate incredulity
as to the sanitary need to be subServed
or the efficacy of the means adopted by
that legislation. If there were judicial
conviction that the public health lis
at stake, it would probably be held that
the safety of the citizen is paramount
to commercial considerations. 1t has
not been very strenuously insisted that
the purposes formulated in the act re-
lated exclusively, if even to consider
able extent, to the sanitary welfare of
the people. Still, it Is believed to be
the CONCLUSION of modern investigations
that some of the most fatal diseases
have their origin in diseased meat. In
the September issue of the Nineteenth
Century Dr.. BEHREND. a very capable
authority on the subject, presents
facts that are of much practical value
in regard to the subject. Consumption
is credited with one-fifth of the mortal
ity of civilized countries. 1t was, until
quite recent times, regarded as disease
that could not be prevented. 1t has
been shown by the experiments of
pathOlogists that this is not the fact.
DR.. KOCH and other eminent European
physicians have found that it is devel
oped from specific organism that may
be communicated to the human system
from animals. DIR. BEHREND, in his
article, adduces evidence that consump-
ton is as often the OutgrOWth of the
germs taken into the system in animal
food and milk as the effect of exposure.
The existence of tuberculosis in
the living animal is difficult to
determine, and the superficial sort
of inspection had under the act of
this state probably had little value.
More attention has been given to the
subject by the health authorities of
some of the old world cities than in this
country. 1t has been asserted under
oath by the inspectors in London, that
so per cent of the meatSent to that mar
ket had tubercular disease. In GlaS-
gov, cattle affected in this way have
been found so numerous that the health
department insists upon the destruction
of all animals that have pulmonary af-
lection, even if the other parts seem un-
tainted. In New York the prevalence
of consumption has been so alarm
ing that the health authorities in
sist upon the government inspec-
ton of all dairy cows and animals
slaughtered for food. and the des-
truetion of all the tubereuIous. Most of
the meatsupply there consists of West
ern cattle, and there is evidently the
same Danger to consumers in the West.
1t is by no means modern infection.
"Death in the pot" was a peril referred
to in the Jewish Scriptures. and the Sc
we're regulations established for the
Jews in regard to the preparation of
meat were in view of the commu-
nication Of diseases. They are, per-
hapS, the only effective preventive, and
modern sanitary science may have to go
back to the Jewish lawgivers for their
final recourse. Consumption is almost
unknown among that people. DR..
BEHREND states that in practice
of thirty years. very largely among
the Hebrew people, he has new
er known a case of phthisis In
patient of that faith. Their immunity
is attributable to their method of
Strengthening cattle. The notable fact
is stated that in Prussia half the Jews
attain their fiftieth year, while thirty
six years is the average of life with the
Christians. One-fourth of the Hebrews
reach seventy-One years, while hardly
that proportion of other people come to
their sixtieth year. In period of six
months in London, out of 1916 cattle
slaughtered, but 6,973 came UP to
the requirements OF the Jews. There
is evidently danger enough in the
meat eaten to warrant the most careful
and competent inspection before the
meat passes into the hands of the con-
cuIupr