Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-24

bureau Of animal industry. ~ that the
healthy and wholesome meat OF an AMI
NAL affected slightly and locally with
some disease 10 passed, after the AZ
fected portion has been removed ana
condemned. The meat or flesh may
not be affected In any particular the
disease being usually confined to GER
tain glands or organs. The diseased
portion is condemned; only the healthy
portion II passed for food.
This procedure is justified and sus-
| tanned by the highest scientific au-
thorities not only in the United States
but in all countries having an efficient
meat inspection. Objections to 1t
usually come from those who have not
make study OF comparative pathology
and who are not qualified to pass upon
the questions involved, and sometimes
they come from those who oppose the
use Of meat at all as food and who
wish to discredit it in every possible
way"
Dr. Melvin continues:
1.-The idea of eating the meat OF a
slightly diseased animal may be re-
pulsive to some, but little considera-
! ton should readily convince reason-
able person that there is no valid rea-
son for condemning and wasting per-
fectly wholesome meat simply because
there happens to be somewhere In the
animal a gland or an organ showing
lesion, or a parasitic noduie, or some
slight, local condition which does not
extend to or affect in any way the re-
mainder of the carcass. The argument
that all the meat Of an animal affected
to even the slightest degree with any
disease should be totally and utterly
condemned. If carried to the extreme
and to it's logical end. would result in
the condemnation of practically every
, animal slaughtered and the abolition Of
meat as food.
With the increasing cost Of the
necessaries of life it becomes more i'm
portant that wholesome food should
not be recklessly and needlessly de-
stroyed. and it is the duty of this de-
partment not only to protect the people
against unwholesome meat, but to con-
serve the food supply. The only sem
sible course in meat inspection is to
determine at just what stage disease
or abnormal condition becomes noxious.
and where to draw the line between
what should be condemned and what
should be passed, always giving to the
consumer the benefit of any doubt
AS showing that the department does
properly safeguard the consumer. Dr.
Melvin refers to the report of com
mission of eminent scientists outside
the department Of agriculture who
were appointed in 1907 to consider and
make recommendations with regard to
certain features of the meat inspection.
and who said on this point:
"The commission would invite atten-
ton to a very widespread misconcep-
ton as TO the significance of the word
diseased in connection with meat in
spection. To the popular mind the idea
Of eating diseased animals is abhor-
rent From the standpoint of meat in
spection. however, the term diseased
must be used in a sense not entirely In
harmony with the popular conception
of this word
1.-The commission could easily under.
take to show that not any single ami
NAL used for food in any part OF the
world would, upon microscopic study.
be shown to be absolutely free from all
infection or lesion II said animal were
presented to 1t for examination.
There may be strictly localized
tuberculosis, consisting, for instance,
Of an isolated tuberculosis nodule in
the lungs, in the liver, or in some
other portion Of the body Such noduie
would make the particular point In
fected diseased from the standpoint
Of meat inspection: in the opinion OF
some members OF the laity. such nodule
would also make the entire meat OF the
animal diseased and call for the con-
demnation Of the entire carcass: from
the standpoint of meat inspection. the
carcass in general would not be dis
eased,' and there would be no 3ustifica-
ton in condemning it.
1.-The veterinary inspector, in Judging
whether a carcass is diseased must
do so upon the general principles OF
pathology in its relation to the public
health. and not upon any preconceived,
exaggerated, or sentimental idea.
THE commission would suggest that
the cooperation Of the public is most
valuable in aiding in the suppression
of frauds in the meat trade. but that 1t
would be well for the public to have
confidence in the ability Of the veteri-
nary inspectors to pass judgment upon
the purely technical side of the ques-
tons involved, since such judgment
can be of value only when expressed by
persons especially trained for this pur-
pose.
Illustrative OF the precautions taken
by the department Of agriculture to
safeguard the public health, It is the
opinion Of the commission that the
bureau Of animal industry. acting under
the existing regulations. would neces-
sarily condemn certain meats which
would be allowed, either with or with
out restrictions. according to circum-