Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-08-06

LEGATIONS made by specialists of the
department, and by independent veter-
inarians and Psychologists, which have
made it clear that large quantities OF
meat which are perfectly good food
when thoroughly cooked have been
condemned because of the presence of
strictly localized cyst or LESSONS in anil
mails. This meat is of the type which.
the German and Austrian governments
have long permitted their packers to.
sterilize by cooking and sell at shops
in a cooked condition. -
This meat which, cooked, finds ready
sale at lower price than raw meat
in Germany and Austria, consists OF
portions of the flesh of animals which
have localized cysts or LESSONS which
make the Immediately affected muscle
Tor tissue unsuitable for food, but
which do not affect the remaining
flesh of the animal or render it I'M
healthful. Portions, usually organs or
glands, containing cysts or LESSONS are
cut away and condemned. These cysts
and LESSONS do not come from any of
the highly dangerous diseases, for any
indications of which the regulations
require the condemnation of the whole
carcass.
Under both the old and the new reg
ulations, in cases where the diseased
condition is trivial and strictly localiz-
ed, the unaffected portions of the car
cass, which are free from any suspicion
of disease, are passed for food and
allowed to be sold in the raw state.
On the other hand, all carcasses
and all parts diseased to an extent
rendering them unfit for food are con-
demned. Between these two classes :,
| lies the Class of meat which may beyf
sterilized under the new regulations!0
! This consists of parts of carcasses be-
neves. to be entirely healthful, but
which come from carcasses affected to
somewhat greater extent than would
allow the passing of these parts for;
food in the raw state because these
parts may contain a chance cyst
which, if eaten raw, might lead to
tapeworm or other diseases. These ac-
cidental cysts or LESSONS, even IL
present, are rendered entirely harm
less by thorough sterilization in cook
ing.
While the packers of Germany and
Austria for many years have widely
awaited themselves of this method OF
saving, by cooking, a huge waste of
meat, it is not known how far the
American packers will care to follow
the practice. 1t is believed, however,
that if it is undertaken it will make
available large quantity Of cooked
meat which is now wasted.
PostMortem Inspection.
The provisions relating to the post
| Of \,
been made clearer and more explicit
so as to make the rules under which
the inspectors pass or condemn car,
casses or portions of them exact and
in accordance with the latest scientific
knowledge. The regulations govern
! ing the carcasses of hogs suspected of:
hog cholera have been made much
more stringent.
The rules and regulations governing
the disposal of condemned meat and
the use and integrity of the federal
marks have been redrafted to meet
fully all conditions which have devel-
oped during the past six years. AS
result, it is made certain that the
mark ~. S. Inspected and Passed" can
appear only on meat that has passed
rigid ante-mortem and post-mortem
inspection at the hands of skilled vet
erinarians.
On account of the danger from trich-
ina in pork and the lack of any known
method of inspection which affords
an absolute safeguard, the regulations
prescribed that no muscle tissue of
pork shall be allowed as an ingredi-
ent of any article such as summer
sausage, or similar foods which, GUS
tomarily are eateD-eithout cooking.
To be included il articles which may
be eaten WITHOUT home cooking, the
pork must have been subjected to a
temperature sufficient to destroy all
live trichinae, or subjected to some
other appr)yed treatment which may
hereafter be discovered
Sanitary Regulations.
The regulations governing the sani-
tary condition of packing establish
ments, the cleanliness of employees
and the care of utensils and instr,i-
ments have been redrafted into a ser
les of definite rules. This, it is be-
lieved makes compliance with the rules
easier on the part of the packers and
makes detection of violation simpler
for the inspectors.
These rules are very explicit as to
the provision of washing and toilet
facilities for the help, as to the con-
dition of clothing, and as to the clean
illness of the hands of those handling
the meat. The rules also explicitly
prohibit the passing of meat which
has been allowed to touch floors or
become contaminated by contact with
condemned meat or knives used in
butchering diseased meat
The regulations regarding imported
meats are redrafted so as to be
more comprehensive and complete
Each foreign country from which
meats are being shipped to the Unit
ed States will be supplied with copies.
as will United States consuls, so that
a strict compliance with them may be
had.