The Hartford republican., 1922-08-25
BY-PRODUCTS OF OUR
MEAT-PACKING PLANTS

A great deal of attention is given
TO the elimination of wastes and ia
the utilization of by-products in Am.
erican industries because IL pays W II
indeed IL Is often absolutely essential
TO success Nowhere are by-products
more carefully salvaged and made to
pay profits than in the big meat
packing establishments. 1t is almost
literally true that nothing goes TO
waste there but the squeals of the
pigs and doubtless even these will be
canned and preserved some way IL
radio or some other new development
provides a profitable use for them.
Writing in the Scientific American
c. A. Byers tells us that discoveries in
the realms of medicine and surgery
in the past few years have opened a
new market for glands from slaugh-
tered animals The principal use of
thess bodies is in the preparation Of
medicines though some are used in
surgery as We have been told by
more or less sensational newspaper
stories. From slaughtered animals
more than score of different parts
and substances, including practically
every known gland, are recovered and
in nearly $50 finished forms employ
ed somehow in medical practice. Red
blood cells from animals are exten-
sively used, their high percentage of
hemoglobln making them desirable
for the treatment of anemia and sim
liar disorders traceable to impover-
ished blood. other medicinal sub
stances come from the brain and
spinal cord, the liver, the gall blad-
der and other parts or organs. Pepsin
from the membrane of the hogs
stomach is an important therapeuti-
cal agent. Lard with a small amount
OF benzoin added TO It is widely used
as a base for ointments, under the
name of benzoated lard. Medicinal
obtained from practically all meat an
finals. In each case healthy. yigor-
Gus animals are selected and the de-
sired parts or substances are careful
ly prepared by trained experts.
II is possible TO obtain from a meat
animal by-products exceeding in re-
tail value the value of all the meat
in the carcass but this is never done
in actual practice. Among he most
important and valuable by-products
Of a packing plant are the hides
which are converted into leather.
Hair after special treatment is used
in great quantities for stuffing auto
cushions and the like. The long
tufts OF hair on the tails of beef
animals, tons of which accumulate.
20 into high-grade curled hair mat
tresses. From the wool of sheep is
obtained lanoline, a fatty substance
which is widely used in the prepard-
ton OF face creams etc.
Gelatin is an exceptionally impor-
tant by-product, obtained from beef |
hides. bones and other parts. 1t is
used for making table gelatin. Jelly
jowders and the like and It also en-
ters into the composition OF ice
cream, marshmallows, candy. icings
for cakes and similar delicacies. Big
bakeries and ice cream makers often
order gelatin in hundred-barrel lots.
In the processes of manufacture 1t is
purified and rendered absolutely
clean. Tons of bones are used in the
OF fertilizers and feeds
for hogs. poultry etc. Offal and re-
fusse unfit for other uses go into
fertilizers and tankage. Intestines
are carefully cleaned and used as
castings for sausage and other ground
meats. From sheep intestines come
all OF the "catgut" used
In surgery, as well as many violin
strings, anglers leaders etc.
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