Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-13
DISCUSS DISEASED MEAT
Correspondence Between District Veterinary
Association and the Health Office.
Practice of slaughterinE for Meat
ed for Dairy Purposes.

The following correspondence between the
secretary Of the District Veterinary AS
ISOLATION and the health officer. through
the Office Of the District Commissioners.
relative to infected meat, explains itself:
THE honorable Commissioners of the
District of Columbia.
Dear Sirs: At the last meeting of the
Veterinary Association Of the District of
Columbia was directed to forward to you
copy of a resolution which was passed
relative to the public health Of the District
Of Columbia. The resolution sets forth
that tuberculosis exists to a large extent
among the dairy cows in the District of
Columbia, Maryland and Virginia, al of
which sections supply milk and meat to the
city OF Washington, D. c.; that good beef,
free OF disease, is plentiful and compare
lively cheap in this country, and that the
slaughter of cows for meat purposes which
have been condemned for dairy purposes on
account Of tuberculosis Is constantly &C.
curing IN tire abattoirs Of the District and
surrounding country, it is therefore the
sense of the association that such meat
Is extremely dangerous for human con-
sumption. and that no cows which have
been used In diaries should be allowed to
be slaughtered for food except under the
inspection of a veterinary surgeon in the
employ Ct the District of Columbia
The communication is signed by ]. p
uIEtI, secretary.
Health Officer Responds.
The health officer says in reply:
Through the provision, during the past
year. of a sanitary and food inspector who
must be a veterinary surgeon, and shall
act as inspector Of live stock, the health
department has been able to devote some
attention to this branch of the inspection
service for the first time in many years
The general character of stock killed was
good, most of the diseases found being
such as would Eot render the carcass or
all of 1t unfit for food. The greatest prev
alence of serious disease was found in
cows, which, having been condemned for
dairy purposes, were disposed of for
slaughter for use as food While 1t is true
that some such animals might be unfit for
the former purpose. and yet used with
impunity for the latter, trade of this sort
demands the closest scrutiny.
In view of the feet that after slaughter
and dressing for market it Is in many cases
extremely difficult If not impossible to de-
term!ne whether meat has or has not come
from diseased animals, it is practically
necessary that the inspection be made be-
fore or at the time of killing. With the
limited force at the command of this de-
partment, such inspection as has been made
has extended to only very small portion
of the stock actually killed: and, in fact,
without an unreasonable increase in the
number of live stock inspected. 1t cannot be
otherwise unless there be provided pub
lie abattoir, and all slaughtering confined
thereto, or unless private slaughter houses
be put under the most rigid restrictions as
to time of killing. etc. AS it is believed
recommendation contained in the annual
report of this department for 1895. for the
establishment of a public abattoir, is re-
spectfully renewed"