The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-02-01
TALKS ABOUT
PURPLE STAMP
Dr. Miner Says 1t Means
Safety to Public.
WHEN PLACED ON MEAT
Some Reasons Given for Gov
eminent Inspection.
WHEN PLACED ON MEAT

DR.. ]. C. Mines is inspector in charg'
OF the Wichita packing houses. He hal
charge of ALI the inspectors at the Dol'
and Cudahy plants and those at the stock
yards. He is an expert veterinarian and
al the men under him are educated alo-ae
the same line. DR.. Mines thinks govern
nlent inspection of meat in the big pack
ing houses of the country is a great step
forward and a protection of the lives OF
the people In discussion of this mat
ter yesterday he said:
Have YOU ever noticed in certain mar
kets of the city meat branded with a
purple stamp? Many people have, but it
IS strange how few know or even ask
what the stamp means. If the people OF
the city in buying would see that the de-
sired cut comes from beef bearing this
purple brand, they would never be wor-
Iied as to quality or purity of the meat.
The purple markings are put there by
the United States meat inspector. and
indicate that the inspector saw that par
ficular beef before slaughter, and also
was present at the killing and carefully
examined the stomach, liver. lungs and
intestines of the animal. His stamp is
the government sign that the beef was
healthy and the meat fit for food. Had
It been otherwise the animal would have
been condemned and the meat never
placed upon the market.
Il will tell you what inspection means.
When a slaughter house applies for gov
eminent inspection that house goes on
record as desiring to be honest with the
people, and they should receive the en-
coura cement thereby due. When the
government gives inspection to slaugh-
tering house. civil service trained veter-
mary physicians. in government pay, ex-
anime ante-mortemly and place upon the
carcas ses the blue stamp of the govern
ment. The stamp is a guarantee to all
consumers that the government vouches
for the purity and health of that particu-
lar piece OF meat.
What is the result when there is no
inspection? Buyers of uninspected meats
are counting disease, misfortune, wrecked
health and a miserable death. More dis
eases are traced directly 10 the eating
of unhealthy meat than to any other kim
dred source. All food animals are COM
mon subjects for such diseases as tu-
berculosis, pneumonia. gangrene, blood
poisoning in many forms as indicated by
tnfiamed glands and diseased pockets,
parturi:ion fever, cholera and swine
plague, lump jaw, icterus, and nephritis,
while sheep and hogs have many ailments
that render them positive menaces to hu-
man life if killed and sold for food
Physicians will tell you that consump-
ton is frequently communicated to the /
human system as d result of eating tu-
ESTABLISHMENTS animals that have
been slaughtered without restraint in
houses having no inspection.
Although ell the larger cities of this |
country and Of Europe are provided with |
government inspection. the people of |
this state have been slow to awaken to |
realization of what inspection really |
means. In the east the consumer will |
absolutely refuse TO buy in any market /
unless it is plainly stated that only GOV |
eminent inspected meats are sold. and |
unless the governments purple stamp |
appears on the carcasses hung up for /
sale
Why do not all abattoirs have inspec-
ton? The question is easily answered. I
AS long as the people do not demand in
epeeted meats it is cheaper to slaughter
and sell the uninspeeted stuff Where
there is no inspection the packer may |
without restraint, dairy stock,
cholera infected hogs and feverish ami
mails Of all kinds. This kind of stock is
purchased cheap and when placed upon
the market commands the same price as
wholesome meat. Is it strange that the