Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-12-29


certatn contagious diseases is trans
mitted from the lower animals to man
through the consumption of diseased
meat and milk is an established fact.
and the control of the sale and slaugh-
ter of such animals can only be had
when the stock yards are so centralized
and controlled that all animals may be
inspected. II there is not an Inspector
and there is no control of the yards
other than that exerted by that very
indefinite and uncertain thing, public
opinion. the mere fact that all stock
IS put on the same market and under
the general public eye will prevent the
mere fragrant violations of public
decency. The fact that other butchers
will see and other statesmen know OF
the sales will often deter when high
moral sense is lacking.
SPREAD OF DISEASE.
In the second place public yards
and abattoirs will prevent the snread
OF disease among the live stock. This
Is very especially true of all the parasi-
TIC diseases. In no way can Southern
cattle fever be controlled except by
means of public abattoirs and union or
public stock yards. Our experience in
virginia illustrates this point True
we have yards Ut the principal points,
but until we have. in connection with
them. the public 0battoir we have only
partial control of the business. The
tact that each year in the dairy herds
around Richmond and Norfolk there
are outbreaks of Southern cattle fever,
and that these outbreaks have dimin-
ished directly as we have been enabled
TO control the movements of the in
fectious cattle Is proof of this point.
But until we can have an abattoir
directly connected With the yards
Where all cattle must be killed we can
not control this disease.
PUBLIC YARDS A SUCCESS.
From al economic standpoint the
public stock yards have always been a
success when managed in the right
way, and the same may be soid of the
public abattoir. From the standpoint
OF the sanitarian they are n necessity.
If we concede the necessity of an in
spection of animal food products we
can see the necessity for the public
yards and ahattoirs. Germany sees
the importance of this. and while her
exclusion of our meat products is
largely for political effect there Is no
question but that her position is based
upon an unswerable sanitary founda-
ton.
INSPECTION OF MEATS.
The perfnnctory inspection of meats
in the market places by some eX-but-
cher who has his job aS a payment
for some political trcllery. Is worse
than farce, and the public opinion
that will permit II is worse than be-
hind the times. No city is doing its
duty that does not require a scientific
ana conscientious inspection of all ami
mai rood products and u condemnation
OF That which is unfit for food We
know, IL the public does not The dan
ger from the use of diseased milk. and
the dangers of the spread of infection
through lis use. All physicians know
the danScr from the use of meat that
is diseased. All veterinarians know the
absolute futility of any inspection
winch does not take place at the time
OF slaughter. The government OF the
united states has recognized the i'm
ror;ance OF this matter and has estab-
lished INSPECTION at most of the large
abattoirs and il may not be generally
known that all meat products sold for
Interstate shipment must. under q
United States law. he first inspected.
10 realize something OF the necessity
for an inspection quote from the odi-
cial report of the Secretary of Agricul-
ture for 1899 He says:
The regulations for this inspection
are most rigid and laXity in enforce
mcnt is never permitted The propric-
tofs OF slaughter houses and packing
houses which prepare meat for inter-
TO the secretary OF agriculture for in
spection. whereupon there is given to
me establishment a number which is
used by the owners of the establish
ment and OF the inspectors to mark
all products issuing therefrom. An
-. - tii-a i;
each establishment, and among his
duties IS the ante-mortcm eXamina-
ton of all animals arriving Mt tho
which nj al.
Ter at ahattoirs. where the department
has established inspection When the
inspector finds an animal unfit for
human food he fastens in his ear n
metal tag stamped ~. s. condemned.
and a serial number. These condemn
Ell animals are at once removed by
the owners and disposed of in accord
ance with State or municipal ordi-
nance. Animals are condemned when
found upon antc-mortem or post-mor-
tenn examination TO be affected as fol-
lows: Hog cholera, swine plague. char
bon, or anthrax, rabies. malignant cpl
zootic catarrh; pyaemia ana scepticae-
mia, mango or scab In advance stages
advanced stages of antinomycoSis. or
lumpy jaw. inflammation of the lungs
the intestine of the peritoneurn, Texas
fever. extensive or generalzed tuher-
cu!osis, advanced state of pregnancy
~ !VNcHA Pdl luilllon ana disease or
injury causing elevation of tempera-
ture or affecting the system TO a de-
gree that would make the flesh unfit
for human food, immaturity or too
young 10 produce wholesome meat
emaciation and anaema sufficient to
render meat unwholesome. distemper.
CHAMBERS and tarcy and other malig-
nant disorders, acute inhammatory
ianeness and extensive fistula. ANY
organ or part OF carcass of an ami
NAL which Is badly bruised or affected
with tuberculosis, actiomycisis, cancer.
abscess, suppura;ing sores. or tape-
worm cysts must be condemned.r
INSPECTED DURING 1899.