Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-07-31

new Federal regulations have been
put in force. the cattle buyers at all
of the large centers of the packing
industry have refused to pay for
cattle until after slaughter and in
spection by the Government inspec-
tors. If the carcass is declared by
these officials to be diseased or
otherwise unfit for consumption as
food, it is sent to the rendering tank
to be manufactured into fertilizer,
and the shipper is required to stand
the loss. As result, there is now a
large decrease in the receipt of So
called Gamers" at the various
stock yards, local shippers finding
it more profitable to dispose of these
to the local butcher at home. Hence,
the people of Iowa, who by rights
are entitled to the best and choic.
est of meats. are compelled to live
upon the carcasses Of old worn; out
COWS, unthrifty calves, cattle and
hogs in advanced stages of tubercu-
losis, and occasionally choice steak
from a fat steer suffering with acti-
nomycosis dump jaw.
Perhaps our readers may think
this is somewhat overdrawn; if 80,
let them investigate as to the cases
of cattl Q and hogs purchased by the
local butcher, and then let them WIS.,
it the local slaughter houses of al
most any town in the state. The
repulsive condition to be seen in
most of these institutions would
scon arouse the indignation of the
whole community. Many of the
butcher shops present tolerably
clean appearance to the customer,
and the supply of meats on hand
may be carefully arranged to meet
the eye of the fastidious housekeep-
er. But go behind the scenes into
the green room;" investigate the
cooling room and cellar, then ques-
ton the employees as to their person.
al freedom from diseases such as
tuberculosis, gonorrhea and syphilis.
Some butchers are more careful than
others, but they are the exception
rather than the rule. Nothing can
be more loathsome and revolving to
the senses Of decent people, than
the thought of eating food handled
and probably contaminated by these
and other agencies, and the carless-
ness exhibited by many employers
of this class of labor, is indicative
Of the danger, and personal obser-
:vation furnishes ample evidence that
these conditions exist to an alarm
ing extent. -
There is indeed urgent need for
general inspection of all; animal
products, of the places where such
articles are prepared and kept for
sale, and of the persons employed
in handling them. Such inspection,
to be reliable and complete, must
extend to the very door Of the actual
consumer, and should include butch
er shops, slaughter houses, baker
les, dairies, hotels, and restaurants;
likewise all persons employed in
these establishments should be re-
quired to produce satisfactory evil
dence that they are free from tuber-
culosis, SYPHILIS, and other communi-
cable diseases. Under Section 2 2,569
of the Code, Local Boards of Health
are clothed with authority to ..'make
regulations such are necessary for
the protection of the public health
respecting nuisances, sources of
filth, causes Of sickness, rabid ami
mails, and quarantine, not in conflict
with any regulations of the State
Board Of Health" The conditions
referred to in this article are q SER
ious menace to public health, there
for local boards have the authority
to make and enforce such regula-
tions as will protect the public
within their jurisdiction. The Gen.
eral Assembly will not be in session
until January, 1909, consequently
there can be no state legislation for
at least two years, while in the
meantime conditions will necessar-
lily grow worse; the responsibility
must therefore devolve upon the
Local Boards of Health. The vari-
GUS municipalities should provide
for local system Of food inspection,
and the licensing Of dairies and
slaughter houses. Stringent regu-
lations should be adopted requiring
that all COWS used for dairy purpos-
es shall be submitted to the tuber-
culin test, and that the meat of
slaughtered animals be inspected
under system similar to that adopt
ed by the Federal government when
possible. A competent veterinarian
should be appointed as inspector.
Private slaughter houses should be
abolished, and in lieu thereof, each
municipality erect and MAINTAIN o
sanitary building properly equipped
with modern conveniences so arrang-
ed that each local butcher can be
accommodated with a separate
slaughter room at nominal rental.
The regulations should prescribe
that all animals, the meat of which
is to be used for human food, shall
be slaughtered and inspected in the
local abattoirs, or in similar estab-
lishments under Federal inspection.
Regulations defining the sanitary
arrangement and inspection Of dair-
les should likewise be adopted and
properly enforced. The Local Board
Of Health should also require that
all persons engaged in handling