New-York tribune., 1906-06-02
INSPECTION FOUND Lax
TOUR OF AB4TTOIRS
Tribune Reporter Makes Visit scith
Eg-EnspectOr-Bad Meat Sold.

&ANNe4tAf'--~ANN y.
eight years was a. federal inspector at the Chi
oago. Kansas City Wichita CKanl and w.ter-
loo Uowa) stockyards, a Tribune reporter Wis
fled several West Side abattoirs YESTERDAY
The tour showed that federal inspection is lax:
thai many loopholes exist through which rn-
desirable meat may reach the public even after
such inspection and that in the case Of slaughter-
houses that kan only for local consumption there
IS seldom any inspection or al the hest on
inspection that does not inspect
OF The plants visited one was a model F,verv
modern Improvement had been supplied ana
sanitary conditions seemed perfect. The federal
Inspectors did their work under conditions that
appeared 10 admit OF no doubt that il was done
properly. Dressing rooms shower baths and
other comforts were literally provided for tho
Vorkmen- The cattle slaughtered were first
cooled under shower, then allowed 10 roam in
F'only pens led with hay and put in excellent
con1luon before being killed. The entire nlsnt
called iorth The enthusiastic praise of DR. Mflnes
The next place visited was very direrent
Hogs were slaughtered there which later would
appear on the tables OF New Workers The build
ms WIS oio' aho. considering the nature of the
business sanitary conditions were good But IL
was there that the weakness in the system of
inspecting New Yorlrs meat supply was made
manifest Practically there was no guarantee
except the honesty OF the proprietor that the
sumption There was no federal inspection, be-
cause the meat was intended for home consunp-
uon- II II had been going out OF the state. state
officials might have inspected it II the meat
was going abroad the packer would have asked
Tor federal inspector. for. without the stamp
az The United States Government, no foreign
country would accept the meat
ONLY CURSoRY EXAMINATION POSSIBLE.
Because the meat was only for New Workers
there was no inspection except such as could be
mace by one OF the Health Departments six
inspectors who. according to the proprietor,
came around two or three times week" Man
ifestly. IL is impossible for these inspectors TO
make anything but cursory examination; time
would not permit OF anything better: and so the
public gets such meat the packer chooses TO
give il
II was al this establishment that DR. Mines
Glancing quickly over the lines OF carcasses in
the hanging room. noticed one with Jumps on
the shoulder.
There seems 10 be something wrong with
that" said the doctor 10 the proprietor
"Oh. those are only boils. When they are cut
out the rest OF the carcass will be good meat"
said the proprietor
THAT hog had py@mia," said the physician
afterward
In another place federal inspectors were at
work one in a little box, sat near where
man with long. sharp knife SLIT the hog as Il
came from the hands Of the SINNERS and took
out the Niscera- These were laid on slab before
the examiner. who glanced at them. II he
nodded the hog was passed along for further
examination. i seemed impossible that the first
man could possibly detect any disease unless il
was in a very advanced stage. ana DR.. Mines
said that such an inspection was Of very little
value The second examiner Went over the
carcass as fl hung IN the hanging room There
The carcasses We're so close together on the
hooks that a thorough inspection was weIlnigh
our u the question. Some Of the meat from this
house WAS intended for export hence the exam
ira-9n, such as IL was.
URGENT NEED FOR MORE INSPECTORS.
The urgent need for more meat inspectors
seems 10 be plain. Health Commissioner Oar
lilsron yesterday made application FOR the i'm
mediate appointment Of eight. II would appear
that great many more than eight are needed
before the citizens Of New York City can feel
assured that animals Slaughtered within the
CITY limits flt FOR food.
Ir. Mines, after the tour Of inspection. said:
on Invitation took the occasion TO visit sew
er-- New York slaughter1ng plants. I found,
very much 70 my surprise a state OF affairs with
reference 70 inspection that - OF great import
L. The health OF the city. I found that meats
slaughtered for city consumption were received
~tier utterly lax Inspection. or with 40 inspec-
uol all
1ly object in visiting these plants was TO as
certain actual conditions and TO discover what
protection WAS being provided for the consun-
ing public The sanitary conditions of the plants
visited We're very Favorable indeed, and no
-au-I could De found 10y any one acquainted
Win the surroundings [ any place where ami
mails are slaughtered
The quality Of inspection I am sorry 10 say
was very dL1erent-at least two OF the plants
visited Al one aDattOir having federal inspec-
L3l was much surprised 70 find il wholly
lI4aceq uale 10 guarantee healthful meats. The
disease most dangerous 10 the human family Is
t-Isr-uIosis and the method OF inspection used
s- this plant Is such that condemnation of ali
diseased animals is weilnigh impossible, and Is
mol such should be rendered 10y the United
STATES Government 10 its confding citizens
These hogs after inspection are branded with
the United States mark guaranteeing them 10
De free from disease. This house was killing
InarAet pigs, and in order 10 oetect tuberculosis
q ne throat and neck by careful palpation.
This should be virtually the first inspection, but
The Yiscera should be retained for further eX-
Animation contingent on the findings OF the gland
Inspection II The glands are found 10 be tuber-
cugus the carcass. including the viscera, should
g. 5e placed aside for critical and final
Of the Bureau Of Animal Industry governing this
N0rk The object Of this method Is 10 enable
the inspector 70 give the carcass thorough ex-
animation under the best surroundings
Instead OF following this method, which is
known 10 be the only correct one found that
No inspection whatever was made OF the glands
of The neck until after the hogs were placed out
on the hanging floor IN long rows close together
In the line, the rows being go close together as
70 exclude light making IL impossible for
careful inspection 20 be made. matter how
diHgent and anxious the inspector might be. The
Inspector had found. however, four tuberculous
hogs, but how many more he would have found
had better method been used am unable 20
ssy. The fact that these hogs received
proper examination for tuberculosis before they
were placed out on the hanging floor rendered IL
inpossfble for these inspectors 20 condemn the
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