Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-03


which had become unwholesome since
jrspection at the time of slaughter.
The meat inspection has continued to
grow in volume and has reached the
noint where further extension is I'M
possible without an increase IN the APP
propriation by Congress. The eX-
penditures on account Of this work
during the fiscal year amounted TO
| about $2SS4,0 600 out of an approprla-
| ton of $4,000 900. At the close OF the
| year the rate of expenditure was hlgh-
r than at the beginning, and it is now
ONLY by the strictest economy that the
service can be maintained on its pres
mt basis without additional funds.
With the additional authority given
| " the new law the bureau has been
lble to bring about steady improve
| nent with respect to sanitation. New
! packing houses have been built so as
to embody the best modern sanitary
! construction, and great Improvement
| mas been made in the sanitary condl-
! ton of the Older plants. The latter
are being gradually abandoned for the
erection of modern plants which may
D" kept at a proper standard of clean
mess with less labor and expense. AS
a result of this Improvement there has
been a considerable decrease in the
amount of meat condemned because of
:naanitary conditions. 1t has also
been FOUND thta where cleanly methods
are employed there is much less reason
O, the use of personalities than UNI
Ter the old conditions.
\ constant effort has been made to
,.eep the service at high standard OF
efficiency and to make improvements
Wherever possible. Notwithstanding
he efforts to give the public a reliable
inspection. however, the service has
been made the object of unjust at
.aClls. Serious charges made against
the service at East st. Louis by for
incr employee were carefully and thor
IuGhly investigated and We're found to
BE- without any real foundation, but to
aaVc their origin in personal animos-
i.y. y full report of this investisa-
zion was published by the department.
IA other cases the attacks have proved
g. bee due to ignorance or misconCep-
ion OF the facts, Il failure to under
stand the system of inspection, or a
'rsire to cause sensation.
I'lf'uA u lllNtStiSdlI8n III It NUMBER
cf reported eases Of ptomaine poison
lug attributed To inspected meat has
itlcd to disclose Il single instance in
,hiCh the trouble could reasonably be
scribed to that cause These investi-
|ations were undertaken largely be-
cause of assertions by manufacturers
If personalities to the effect that the
nforccd discontinuance of preserva-
+ ives was responsible for a great in
orease in the number OF cases of
Ntomaine poisoning. The Bureau has
allied to find any justification for such
arguments. In three cases Of extern
i've outbreaks in schools it was found
hat the trouble was really typhoid
ever and in one of these instances it
appeared that the report of ptomaine
poisoning was circulated with view
10 concealing the real cause. Another
report of a death from ptomaine poi
'oning from eating canned meat
proved to have originated in the
imagination Of a newspaper CORE
pondent, who acknowledged that it
VAS untrue. The family had in fact
eaten no canned meat. and the at
lending physician denied that there
W 40 any CN ibtiINt vi ptOIlitlIit pOlSDt-
ing.
There have been cases where meat
bearing the Federal inspection marks
was alleged to have been condemned
as unWholesome by city or local au-
thorities. Usually the fact is that
The meat was sound at the time of be-
ing inspected and marked by the Fed
eral Inspectors and that the unwhole-
some condition arose afterwards.
Everybody knows that meat is liable
to spoil, and no inspection can guaran
tee that it will remaipwHbaesome until
consumed. Ia
These instances are sufficient to
show that credence should not be
placed in published reports rejecting
upon the mearinspecton. The regu-
iaions are based not only upon the
ltr6wledge and experience of the bu-
reau staff. but upon the advice of high
scientific authorities outside of the de-
partment. The persons making up
the inspection force are carefully Sc
llected through civil service examina-
, ton. and their work is closely super
vised. One class of employees con-
siSts of veterinarians who are gradu-
! ates OF certain recognized colleges and
| who have a thorough knowledge of
| animal diseases and their relation to
| human health. Other employees are
| chosen because of their expert knowl-
edge of live stock, meats, sanitation,
| packing-houseT processes, etc. There
are seven supervising travelling inspec
T, tors who visit the various stations
| from time to time. unannounced. and
Investigate the methods of carrying on
the work. In this way it is extremely
unlikely that inefficiency or corrup-
ton could remain UNDECIDED very long
In Il work Of such MAGNITUDE carried or