Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-05-21
Two Of the Carcasses Properly Des-
troyed.
THE HEALTH OFFICERS STATEMENT
How the Beeves Got From the
Experiment Station.
WHAT DIR. SALMON SAYS

DerculOSlS ana turned over TO the Ndliolal
Sanitary Company for destruction had
never been delivered at the wharf and
may have found their way into the local
meat market naturally created something
of a sensa ton. AS such stories will do,
this one grew, SO that today the statement
was made that of fifteen head which had
been sent to the tank, all had gone astray
and might have gone onto the dinner tables
throughout the city. In point of fact. only
two head were lost at the time, and it is
not certain beyond doubt that even these
did get into the market.
The authorities at the Department of
Agriculture today stated that there was not
the slightest desire or reason to reflect on
the ealth officer of the District in the
matter. DIR. ID. e Salmon, the chief of
the bureau of animal industry. told Star
reporter this afternoon that he had always
found DIR. Woodward most oblSing and
willing whenever his cooperation had been
invoked If there was blame In the mat
ter it rested with the contractors who was
ordered to remove the carcasses. Accord
ing to DR.. Salmon, when it was desired to
have the carcasses removed from Benning
the health office was communicated with
and wagon was sent out for the BODIES
These animals were killed at the station
and post norton studies were made OF the
bodies in pursuit of further knowledge of
the subject Of tuberculosis.
DIR. Wood,yar,rs Statement.
In conversation with a Star reporter this
morning DIR. Woodward said that so far as
he was able to learn there was no definite
reason for believing that the two carcasses
were not properly disposed of. When COM
plant was made to him on the subject by
DR.. Salmon he at once placed the matter In
the hands OF Inspector Hollinberger, and
the latter's men made thorough investiga-
ton, but this did not prove that the bodies
We're not delivered at the wharf. Some
little time had then elapsed, and it was i'm
possible to get track of the missing car
ca sses or to identify the driver of the
wagon which took them away.
Il then told the department people" said
DR.. Woodward, that l could be of no ser
vice in the matter unless l was informed
when carcasssS We're to be removed from
the experiment station. It was out of the
question for me to keep an inspector at the
station all the time in wait for the killing
Of some cattle. l suggested that If In
spector Ho!linberger was notified every
time animals were sent from the station it
would be possible to have a man at the
wharf to see that they were properly de-
livered there.
This was done thereafter though with
out the knowledge of the contractor. The
next time the carcasses We're sent away a
watch was kept at the wharf, and that
showed that they We're sent there all right
ant. without any delay. So it was in several
succeeding instances. The inspector also
notified his men at all times to keep a
lookout both at the station and at the
wharf, and to report all that went on, with
such miscarriage. There was no more
trouble, but lately no communications have
been received from the station. Last March
l sent copy of the following letter to Dr.
Salmon:
March Is, 1898.
CDR. D. E. Salmon,
"Chief, Bureau Animal Industry,
Washington, ID. c.:
Dear sir: In reply to Your letter OF the
14th instant l incloSe herewith a copy of
the report received from l.. III. HollinberS-
er. lieutenant and inspecto" OF the detec-
tive force, into whose hands the matter
was placed Immediately after my conyersa-
ton with you. There will lie no difficulty
in securing the prope: delivery OF the
carcasses referred 20. if at the ti,na of
sending them from the experiment station
the police department IS notified, SO that
the officer on whose beat the wharf from
which the animals are shipped can witness
their shipment.
very respectfully,
GigneD "WM. c. WOODWARD. NJ. d,
Health Officer"
Talk With DIR. snlmon.
DR.. Salmon said this afternoon that the
reason the health Office had not been COM
municated with of late in the matter was
that the department had discontinued the
study of tubercuIous cattle at the expert
ment station, and that no more animals.
suffering from the disease in question, had
been killed. If there had been any the
health Office would have been notified at
once.
porter whether there was anything to pre-
vent condemned cattle killed in Chicago
from being sent on here for sale.
There are laws against it and penalties
for their violation. So there are in the
case of murder, but that does not mean
that murder cannot be committed. Every
possible prccaution is taken in the matter.
The Secretary told you yesterday of an
instance in Chicago where a Condemned
carcass of a steer had been removed from
the tank and then sold in the market.
when it was found that such a thing
was possible the regulations were changed
so that the inspector Is compelled to stay
until the carcass is put into the tank and
un:.I after the steam has been turned on,
whichTeEders it impossible that the animal
can ever be used for food purposes under
any circumstances, as entrais, bones and
all are steamed together.
LAS yet it is impossible to prevent meat
from being taken from one state to an
ether until after it has been properly in
spectcd and stamped as suitable with the
inspectors seal This is not on account of
the limitations of the law, but it is i'm
practicable with the present development
of the system. Meat inspection is not car
ried on as it should be in all states and to
enforce this rule until the inspection is ex-
tended would result in crushing out the
"A
cur inspectors are in the classified service.
I've can only get them from the eligible
list. We have taken all we could get and
might find use for more Until we can get
enough inspectors. the system cannot be
made complete.
"a clear distinction should be made be-
tween meat inspection proper and the
trichina inspect ton. The latter is a micro
scopic inspection designed for commercial
purposes with view to securing the ad-
mission of American pork into foreign
countries. So far it has not been deemed
advisable to attempt TO condemn all trich-
mas animals, nor are we given the power
to order that such shall be tanked. This
examination was provided for solely to in
crease American trade abroad. and is quite
separate from our domestic inspection.
I'm the general system of inspection all
animals are thoroughly examined to see
whether they are fit for food, both before
and after killing. All sorts of diseases are
looked for in every animal that is killed
for the meat market, and not only trichno-
sis alone. When an animal is found to be
| unsuited for edible purposes-and. this is
given strict definition-thc inspector at
once orders it to be tanked, and must stay
with 1t until he knows it has been de-
stroyed In answer to the question why an
effort has not been made to give the de-
partnlent greater powers, the answer may
10 o;, hot nal.