St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-10-09
soME NAKED TRUTHS.
A St. Paul Physician Discusses
Meat InSpectiOn.

To the Editor ofthe Globe.
The'Pieneer Press of the 9th brings
an article: "Inspection Is Required"
where the phrase is used, sin the face
of Judge Nelson's decision, backed by
an almost unanimous public opinion"
Such misleading phrases ought to be
corrected. Judge Nelson's decision
any way needs some comment from the
hygienic and national economical stand
point, which is settled one some years
in European countries, but which Judge
Nelson leaves entirely out of his cOnSld-
erations. refer here to my article III
the GLOBE of the Goth of March: mo
Red Tape About Meat Inspection"
In the old country every city has IFS
Strengthening houses, where every ami
NAL is inspected by competent persons
before slaughtering and the internal
organs thoroughly examined after
wards; and. if necessary, microscopic
and all other modern safeguards are APP
piled to prevent the sale of diseased
meats and meat products, because
the number of infectious dis
eases spread this way is very
large and continues to increase.
The governments in Europe spend
millions of dollars for their national
boards of health QeichtgeSundheItSamt.
seeing the utmost Importance of pro-
tecting the unSuSpecting consumers from
fraud, and the more important factor OF
protecting their health.
In regard to the almost unanimous
public opinion, it is ridiculous how this
opinion is Yacillating this or the other
way, Just by the few cents difference in
the price of meat. Public opinion is
absolutely unripe in regard 10 such
questions in this country. l remem-
Der how the national board of
health was abolished for some
years for want of appropriations,
until the yellow fever epidemic in Flor
ida (Which cost the country upwards OF
$50, ,000} started the congress to anew
effort, until the spread of pleuro-pneu-
monia consumption in cattle made an
outlay of untold millions necessary.
They started then also meat bureau in
Washington with some figurehead on
like DR.. Salmon. and the classical
Prof. Wiley, who said on the stand, as
an expert, that he was just as willing
to eat dead hog meat as to eat meat
from killed animal. This official
document, representing the sentiment
of most pork growers here, was Sutfi-
cient to make Germany and France for
bid all American hog products, which
for eight years, at S50,000,0 900 year,
makes quite a sum. Only their SAM
tary consideration, and no agrarlan
ideas, prevail in Europe to-day.
and they don't think to restrict
their measures. all the talk of American
retaliation Notwithstanding; on the
contrary, they want to extend the law
to the 'corned beef product. This fall
ing off of the export ought to have
opened the eyes of the congress, but it
see ms it would take national calamity
to bring about such sanitary reforms
which will result finally in America
becoming the meat producer of the
world, which it ought to be. Since the
national board tof health doesn't do its
duty in regard to international and
interstate meat trade, it is no wonder if
50 many states try to protect them
selves against the invasion of unwhole-
some stuff, following the example of
Germany and France; and all the talk
that the meat law interfereS with inter
state commerce laws and with the con-
stitution will not hinder the natural
outcome. FIR. DEDOLPH, NJ. ID.
st. Paul, Mimi, Oct. s.