Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-07
EDWARD E. eEHRENs, v. M. o.
On Safeguarding Meat

TT IS not perhaps generally known how
large n part in the work of guarding the
public health is played in the inspection of
meats, fish, fowl and game. But, says DR..
Edward +. Behrcns, chief of division of
meat and cattle inspection of the Bureau of
Health, constant vigilance is the only sure
prevention of contamination.
Il do not think" says DR.. Behrens, that
the average citizen gives much attention to
the measures that are taken TO safeguard
him on this very important side.
"InspectiOn begins at the abNttoir, and TO
this important work n graduate veterinarian
is assigned. for a knowledge of animal pa
thOlogy and bacterial and parasitic infection
is necessary TO enable adequately to examine
all the glands and organs in which diseases
are known to show themselves. The dis
eases that we find most frequently In food
producing animals are tuberculosis, measles,
hog cholera "a form of typhoid fevcr) ana
occasionally anthrax. 1t is not necessary
for me to point out the danger that might
result from an animal infected with any
one of these diseases being sold for food.
Try to Sell Tainted Meats
"And yet attempts to sell such animals to
the unsuspccting persist and to such an eN-
tent that at no time can we relax our watch
over slaughter house owners, butchers.
dclicatessen ShopkCcpers and owners OF
poultry markets. During the c-ThankS-
giving days we condemned 66, $50 pounds OF
meat and poultry, of this 12GG pounds in
markets along single street. we had re-
ceivrd but four complaints.
at is true that the bulk of our work.
outside of the inspection of abattoirs,, and
the points at which shipments OF hsh or
meat or fowl are unlOadcd, is ccntercd in
n particular group of ncighborhoods, or,
better, particular types OF neighporhoous.
The moro prosperous citizens will keep away
from shops where bad meats have been sold
to them, and the butchers who sell to such
customers know it as we'll as the customers
themselves. But the butchers whose trade
IL among the poor and ignorant are not
forced to observe such SCrupleS, or would
not unless for the inspectors.
Many Tricks Are Uncovered
"Ruscs of many sorts are practiced to
deceive the inspectors. One Of the COM
moncst is the little trick of trimming out
tubercular LESSONS. Such devices seldom
succeed for the reason that any deviation
from the accepted method Of dressing Is a
signal of suspicion to the trained inspector.
Butchers who practice these devices too
often nre served with notice that another
such OffenSe will result IN the removal OF
their licenses
"Thc strictest observation and inspection
mug be maintained at the killing floor.
But the work by no means ends there.
Meats may leave the abattor free of dis
ease and vet reach the consumer in q con
dition that makes them unfit for food. Many
factors might cause this: careless handling,
TRANSFORMATION in insanitary vehicles, con
tact with badly kept ice boxes and meat
blocks or exposure to dust and insects.
"A considerable percentage of the CON
dcmnntions that are recorded ench year is
the result Of one or more of these factors
"In the fish markets thousands Of hounds
Of fish are condemned every day because
of insufficient tcing. delays In transporta-
ton or careless handling.
"a systematic regard for simple sani-
tnry standards would save q great deal OF
the meat we are forced to condemn.
"a summary of the condemnatons made
nv the inspectors of my division for the
eleven months of this year ended Novcmbcr
70 shows that there have been seized, con
dpmnrd. taken out Of the market and do
| stroyed as unfit, 1,52S, ,044 pounds OF mCot
pouitry, fish, game and shelIfsh.
Goat Meat Sold Here
"Of goat meat (of which little il so,d l.,
| Philadelphia and which we occasionally AMI ~,
masquerading as 'muttonD lT5 pounds. ~
| beef 05 466 pounds; Of pork 10 0"t
pounds; of mutton, 20,T00 pounds of ycoI
4190 pounds; of poultry, i3l ,467 pounds ,
of game, II ,422 pounds; Of fish, liza 56,,
/ pounds; of shellfsh, OF ,O94 pounds. Al
though the sale of horse meat mas bean
! iegaiized' there are no horse abattoirs In