The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-07-07
Scientists Make Thorough h.
 SpeCtiOn of the Plants
YARDS GENERALLY CLEAN
Products Are Wholesome and Inspec. tion Is Efficient-Faults Exist. Ing Are Being Rapidly Cor
 rected By Packers.

Chicago July 6,-The report of the joint committee of the Chicago Commercial as- sociation and the Illinois Manufacturers association, appointed to investigate the packing industries of Chicago together with the report of the experts who ac- oompanied them, was made public eoday. The committees say:
 That a board of experts of the charac- ter employed, with professional ideals and guided and Influenced by an aesthetic sense. which 'embodies something of necessity and something more of luxurv.' should find the product 'whoesome' the yards generally clean and the inspee- ton efficient seems to your committee to cover the situation
 As result of this investigation. we ourselves have no hesitancy in stating that the meat products at the yards are wholesome and proper food
 We find that the companies have been improving conditions and products from year 10 year; that improvements have been constantly made, and will be made and we believe the conditions and sul- roundings at the plants carefully protect the quality
 Prominent Scientists Engaged. The experts who accompanied the com mttee were pr. W. A. Evans. professor of pathology, University of Illinois; pr. Maximllan Herzog. late pathologist bu- reau of science of Manila. P. l.: pr. NJ. P. Ravenel pathologist 10 the Phipps' instl- ute, Philadelphia Prof A. r. Peters, V. s., University of Nebraska and Prof. NJ H Reynolds, V S.. University of Minne- sota. all eminspt specialists. Their inves- tigation occupied two weeks during which
 they made thorough study of conditions
 in the stockyards and packing houses as
 they could possibly make within that 1 time.
 "They say that part of most of the | plants are up to date, yet in each of these there are some sections that are n- ' differently good and In most of them some things that they cannot approve of.
 '"The committee can see no better evi- dence of the truth of this statement than the very extensive improvements that are now under way everywhere. Thes better- ments relate in some places to minor things and In others they mean n com plete rebuilding of old plants.
 Generally speaking the more recently built plants are the best, and much of adverse criticism has had It's origin In conditions at old buildings which have been added to and adapted to expanding business. When the committee comes to analyze the criticism they find that part of 1t is based on principles that are known and part of 1t on aesthetic sense and pop ular demand that food products shall be produced in places conforming to some what aesthetic ideals. The aesthetic sense embodies something of necessity and something more of luxury in regard to the latter. of which there may be good deal of transformation.
 Scientists Differ on Preservatives. Nor is there more yagueness and less definite information than in regard to
 preservatives. Even scientists differ on this subject Your committee has in- vestlgated by inquiry, by search and by analysis to determine where preserya- tives were used. 1t gives the conservatives
 used but does not discuss the question of the harmfulness from the preserva- tives employed on the one hand. nor the supposedly increased dangers result
 ing from the use of unpreserved pro-
 ducts or products differently preserved on the other. It especially comments
 
 quiry."
 The investigation of the regulations of the United States and the city of Chicago for inspection of meat. the committee says, was conducted by doctors Hecktoen, Herzog and Evans. representing the Chi cago Medical society. who had the es- peclal counsel of DTS Ravenel. Peters and Reynolds. These gentlemen wrote to
 a number of scientists. and the commit I,A f,, I,.Tr n, of Prof. William II. Welch of the Johns Hopkins University who said: Tn view of the absence of any possible danger to health arising from the use of the meat of cattle affected with only localized tuberculosis or acrimonious plum jaw of slight or moderate ex- tent 1t would In my opinion be extrava- gant and indeed absurd to condemn the carcasses of such cattle. provided the animals are well nourshed and other
 wise in good condition. It Is of course understood that the diseased part and organs are completely removed and de- stroyed. and that proper precautions are taken to guard against the accidental contamination of the meat with the tu- bercule bacilli during and after slaugh- tering. As regards tuberculosis. I con slider that all reasonable demands are met by the condemnation of the carcasses affected with extensive, active tubercu- losis and with generallzed tuberculosis. "The demands solely of public health would doubtless be met by less stringent regulations"
 In summing up their observance of the inspection. the committee says Carcasses All Inspected. 'The inspection of carcasses has been observed in operation In all of the houses and a very considerable amount of time has been spent. in some cases for hours In succession at the same time and .ace studying this demand of the work. There are unquestlonably certain features re- garding which some minor suggestions and criticisms might fairly be made but In general 1t was found In inspection of the dead animal up to the time the car | casses and separated organs passed from 1 the killing room, was reasonably care ! full thorough and in general efficient. ''rhe committee believe that the ante | n.ortem inspection is of far less import ance than the inspection of the dressed carcass and feel that if either men or | funds could be released in part from this | ->---~-~--~-~~-~--->----- (continued on Second Page.)