The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-24
SUED FOR HIS HOGS.
Herman Meyer Says His Pork
ers We're Healthy.
ExPERTs STATE THEIR OPINION.
The Action Of the Health OMleer Pro-
neonssd Hasty-Ths city win Ne
&. Sued for Damages.

The action Of the city health department
IN condemning end ordering to be killed
ninety-eight hogs which were said to be
amicted with cholera is liable to involve
the city in litigation with Herman Meyer,
the butcher, who purchased the hogs, and
also with J. n. Waller, of Nebraska, who
shipped the carload Of swine to Seattle
from Omaha.
Both OF these men and Drs. Green and
Nugent, veterinary surgeons, are positive
IN their statements that the hogs were not
aniicted with cholera; that all the animals
except seven or eight were in good health,
and those seven or eight were only afflicted
with pneumonia--a very common ailment
among hogs, when they have been shipped
IN open cars for any great distance through
changing climates
Mr. Meyer was seen by Posr-INrELIL-
cxNoER reporter last evening, and said:
The city health officers have been over
Jealous. They have injured me to large
extent and will bring suit against the
city for damages. Ihave retained w. Lair
Hill as counsel and will file complaint in
the superior court just as soon as we can
do 80. Only seven or eight hogs were sick,
and it was unjust for the health depart
ment to condemn the whole ninety-eight
head. Those that were sick need not have
been killed. They were not fit for food,
certainly, but they were suffering from no
contagious disease. Ninety-eight rs fine
hogs as werc ever sold in this town are
hanging up in the slaughter-house. / in
tend to allow the city tallow renderer,
Peterson, to take the pork away, but the
city will have to pay me for it."
How much have you been damaged ?"
II cannot say. The carload was valued
at $1,000, but have been damaged more
than that. The twenty lone hogs spoken
OF as seen floating around in the bay never
came out of the carload that was con-
demned, because only 100 hogs were shipped
from Omaha and but eight of that number,
all told, died. That is smaller percentage
than usually dies on SO long q journey.
On twenty-four-hour run we always cal
culats on the death Of at least two hogs to
the car"
Drs. Green and Nugent, who made q
special expert examination of the hogs,
both before and after death, are emphatic
in stating that the hogs did not have the
cholera.
DIR. Green said:
"At the solicitation of Mr.. Meyer, Dr.
Nugent and myself went out to the slaugh-
ter-house and made careful examination
of the animals. We caught some that
were alive, took their temperature and
looked for LESSONS characteristic of hog
cholera. We made a most thorough and
careful investigation of the animals and
made post-mortem examination of those
that were dead. We examined the lungs,
liver and intestines and all parts of the
animals and we are prepared to
state that there were not the first
symptoms Of cholera in the animals. A few,
seven or eight, we're afflicted with pneumo-
mia, but that is no reason why the whole
carload of animals should have been con-
demned. When DR.. Mcintosh, the veter-
marian employed by the city, went out to
look at the hogs he did not examine any
that were alive, beyond looking at them,
animation. He simply took a careless look
around and ended by pronouncing the an
mails all afflicted with cholera. Mr.. Meyer
win bring suit against the city for dam
ages, and he will surely win."
How do you account for the red spots
that covered the bodies of the dead hogs
Was not that symptom of disease?''
'Not at all. Those red spots spoken of
were only bruises, and they were entirely
on the backs Of the animals and in no
other place. The bruises were made by
the hogs standing up on one another and
trying to climb over each other while in
the car. They were simply bruises that
can be found on any animal that is shipped
in car any great distance"