The times., 1900-12-22
Unsanitary Cattle sheds.

The attention of the Commissioners has
been called TO the condition of a cattle
| shed at Twelfth Street and Ohio Avenue
where. as alleged by the President OF the
Humane Society, cattle driven for long
distances from the country are housed in
manner not conducive to their health.
The shed is said TO be filthy and there is
no chance for the animals to rest Those
who have investigated the matter say that
the Shed ought 20 be removed or cleaned,
so that its filth and unsanitary condition
will not injure the tenants.
There is every reason to agree with this
view, and IL there are any other cattle
sheds in like condition they should be in
vestigated and the owners forced to clean
out and remodel or abandon them. The
housing of cattle in city is dubious un-
dertaking at the best. and it has been Sc
riously predicted that they will not be
allowed in the city of the future. But if
they are to be brought into town for the
purposes OF the butcher or other dealer
they should certainly be properly shell
tered, fed, and taken care Of Unfortu
nately, many cattle dealers do not think
comes necessary to compel them to do So
The cruelty involved in driving an ami
NAL for many miles and landing it at last
in little city shed where it cannot OBJ
tain needed rest, and where the stalls are
filthy and unhealthful is perfectly OBJ
vious; and cruelty to animals is one of
the things against which city authorities
should guard with the utmost care. There
are certain brutalizing influences in city
life, at best; the constant change, the
friction of the crowds, the competition.
the contact with evil phases of human ga
ture, all make it easy for the young mind
to absorb impressions and ideas which
conduce neither to the welfare of the in
dividual nor TO that of the community.
The Humane Society, therefore does a
work even more important than that of
protecting animals from suffering. though
that work is intrinsically good; it helps
to protect children and young people from
the brutalizing influence which the sight
Of cruelty invariably has.
But, aside from merely sentimental con
siderations. there is an exceedingly good
reason why cattle, in particular should
be well taken care OF. These animals are
imported for the use either of the dairy
man or the butcher aud in either case it
is of the utmost importance that they
should be healthy Physicians say that
more children die of impure milk than
from any other one cause; and it is GER
tain that beef which comes from diseased
animals is the cause of revolving diseases
among those who are so incautious as to
eat it. Yet IL is not always possible to
avoid purchasing or eating unwholesome
beef. since there is sometimes nothing in
It's appearance to indicate its inferior
quality. The only remedy for the mani
fold ills which come of fraud in this ar
ticle Of food is a strict supervision of
butchers and cattle dealers, and this can
be had only through the determined ac-
tion of the public. There is nothing much
worse for anyone's constitution than
spoiled or diseased meat, and unless pre-
cautions are taken to secure the public
against this fraud it will surely be forced
upon them. The proper housing of cattle
involves not only sentimental but practi-
cal considerations.