The San Francisco call., 1910-05-28
Meat Regulation Ordinance, Un-
satisfactory to the Health
Boards Head, Is
Approved
STOMACH, NOT LUNGS,
HOME OF TUBERCULOSIS
Scientists Insist New Law Is
Unequaled in Protecting
Citizens Against White
Plague
DEPARTMENT WOULD NEED
FORCE OF 90 INSPECTORS

|NRDINANCE 1884. approved by
~ the board of supervisors. jan
uary sand which regulates the
sale of meat in San Francisco, is either
Impossible" as DR.. George Lee
Eaton, president of the board of
health, declares. or it is the last word
of perfection in modern legislation.
Against Doctor Eaton, who has.
through the board of health, asked
It's repeal by the board of supervisors,
are arrayed any number of city physi-
clans, who insist that the ordinance
should be allowed to stand and that
as law on the books of the comnu-
nifty it is almost unequaled in protect
ing the citizens of the city against
tuberculosis
Physicians Disagree
Doctor Eaton, in discussing his at
titude, takes refuge behind what the
other professional men declare is an
antiquated and thoroughly exploded
theory, while he insists that the law
which they say is a great stride for
ward is in reality an unsatisfactory
and i'll designed piece of workman
ship
Doctor Eaton has snapped his fin
gers at the theory that more tuber-
culosis is spread through the ranks
of this generation by infected food
than through the breathing passages
and germ filled air. On the other
hand, the proponents of the law in
sist that today science has demon
strated beyond a doubt that tuber-
culosis is introduced into the system
more often through the stomach than
through the lungs, and that the old
idea that germs were sent into the
air from tubercular saliva has been
wiped out almost entirely.
Koch Theory Overcome
The controversy has now reached
the point where Doctor Eaton is in
the position of defending the theory
of Dr. Robert Koch, the German
scientist, who some years ago an
nounced that bovine bacilli could not
be communicated TO the human sys-
tenn AT the last international tuber-
culosiS congress in 1909, DR.. G. Ten
deloo of Holland read a paper ad-
vancing the same theory, and, ac-
cording to Dr. George S. Baker,
United States inspector in San Fran
cisco, the Koch theory had been so
thoroughly overcome that the paper
did not excite the slightest comment.
Recent laboratory work with bacilli
and experiments with cases have DEM
onstrated that food carries tubercu-
losis into the digestive system, and
unless the individuals are strong
enough to resist the action of the
germ they will fall victims to the
ravages OF the white plague
The ptesent ordinance has met with
such opposition from the butchers
because it requires that all meat be
inspected by health officers before it
is sold for consumption. Not only is
this required, but the law goes a step
beyond this in safeguarding the pub
lie 1t is required that certain parts
of the intestines be left intact until
inspected for bacilli.
Federal Law Followed
The law has been designed under
some suggestions afforded by Doctor
Baker, who has used as, foundation
for the city ordinance the federal Sec
ton on the subject. This, he says.
has been enacted by the government
after long series of experiments
and observations. and is beyond in
dictment from the board of health.
One section, regulation 20, is the
basis Of the San Francisco law, and
is as follows:
Section 1A-Carcasses OF animals
which have had no antemortem
inspection by inspectors Of the
bureau OF animal Industry will
NOT exceDf as herainaffar nrovfr7ed-