Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-03
NEW STATUTE GOVERNS
SLAUGHTER HOUSES
Food Commissioner Purcell Calls
Attention of Public to Re-
viScu Regulations.
OLD LAW PROVED FAILURE
Fines Imposed for Filthy Conditions
in Abattoirs Not Sufficient Check.
New Act Provides for State License
and Inspection.

| The approach OF the hot weather
! season. which. under the best of con-
| ditions, menaccs the wholesomcncss. if
not also the purity OF fresh meat pro-
! ducts. has caused the dairy and food
division of the State Department of
Agriculture to issue special bulletin
| drawing attention to the stringent abb
attoir and packing house act passed
by tho last General Assembly, and the
heavy fines that are provided for viola
tionS.
The law fixes reasonable regulations
and standards for the conduct OF these
places" says Dairy and Food Commits
sioncr Purcell, in the bulletin referred
to. provides license, without cost
to the licensec. for such establishments
as meet the requirements of the gem
cral sanitation. equipment and
methods. and makes it Il misdemeanor
to operate plant at which meat food
products are prepared for sale, unless
the proprietor holds a license authoriz-
ing him to conduct the business In
question.
The efforts of this department in the
past to enforce the conditions in this
business. which would help to secure
supply of sound and wholesome
meats for tho consuming public. have
met with only partial success. due TO
the fact that the small fines imposed
under the provisions nf the general
sanitary laws were found not to be
sufficient deterrent to cvadc the re-
0uiremcnts of the law
CONVICTION AUTHORIZES
REVOCATION or LICENSE
The effect of the new law is to
place tho responsibility for the main
tenance of proper sanitary conditions
on the parties operating Slaughter
houses, and conviction for a violation
OF the requirements authorizes the
revocation of tho license
The necessary inspection and pro-
lection can be secured to the consumer
with no added cost to the price Of
the meats he purchases and without
cost TO the city esta hiishing il, provided
a small fee for the inspection be paid
by the butcher who offers his cattle
for slaughter. the cities TO adopt or
dinances that all meats offered for sale
snail be from the carCasseS of ami
mails which have been inspected and
passed by the official Inspector
Every citizen of tho State has a
olrect interest In the purity and whole
someness or the meat supply The
provisions of the new statute offer
me means or securing very much bet
ter conditions in the small Slaughter
holses. but the citizens of the State
must realize that in tho consumption
OF meats prepared in the small slauch
ter-houses and those that do not main
tain antemortem and postmortem in
- 'he 'dtlic ana carcaSseS.
iheir present protection from diseased
meats lie largely I'm the integrity of
the man with whom they deal and
IN the fact that usually meats are
subjected to high temperatures in
cooking them in preparation for con-
sumption"
Proprietors Of slaughter-houses and
aoattoirs. who have not vet placed
thelr establishments on the footing ro
CURED by the new law are liable TO
hnes OF from s25 to 5000. Copies or
NE new act will be supplied from tho
once or the State Dairy and Food
commissioner upon application.