No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 125 



EXAMINATION OF ANIMALS, DRESSED CARCASSES, MEAT FOOD 



PRODUCTS, ETC. 



In establishments where, as provided in rule 21 of these rules and regulations, 

 a local agent is stationed to examine all animals slaughtered and all meats and 

 meat I'ood products prepared therein, the examination, slaughter, preparation, 

 marking and storing of all carcasses, parts or organs, and the disposal of all 

 diseased carcasses, parts, or organs, shall be conducted in accordance with 

 the following rule and regulations. The terms "establishment at which com- 

 plete inspection is maintained" refers to such establishments. These rules and 

 regulations shall also apply to all establishments where meats or meat food 

 products are prepared or stored and shall be enforced by agents of the State 

 Livestock Sanitary Board wherever they are present to conduct such examina- 

 tion, but the absence of such agent shall not be an excuse for the preparation 

 or sale of unsound, unhealthful or unwholesome me&t or meat food products, or 

 for disregard of these regulations or of the law relating to meat hygiene. 



ANTE-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS. 



28. An ante-mortem examination shall be made of all cattle, sheep, swine 

 and goats about to be slaughtered before they shall be allowed to enter the 

 slaugliteiing room of an establishment at which complete inspection is main- 

 tained. Such examination shall be made in pens, alleys or chutes of the estab- 

 lishment at which the animals are about to be slaughtered. Owners or man- 

 agers of such establishments shall provide satisfactory facilities for conducting 

 such examinations and for separating or holding apart from healthy animals 

 those showing symptoms of disease. All animals showing symptoms or sus- 

 pected of being affected with any disease or condition which, under these reg- 

 ulations, would probably cause their condemnation when slaughtered, shall 

 be marked by affixing to the ear a metal tag as provided in rule 18 of these 

 regulations. All such animals, except as hereinafter provided, shall be slaught- 

 ered separately, either before regular slaughter has commenced or at the close 

 of the regular slaughter, and shall be duly identified by a representative of the 

 establishment to the agent of the State Livestock Sanitary Board or authorized 

 local meat inspector on duty in the slaughter room before the skins are removed 

 or the carcasses opened for evisceration. Reports on such animals shall be 

 made by the agent or local meat inspector as provided in rule 18. Animals 

 tagged for pregnancy which have not been exposed to any contagious or infec- 

 tious disease are not required to be slaughtered, but before any such animal 

 is removed from the establishment the tag shall be detached by the agent or 

 local meat inspector on duty in said establishment and returned with his report 

 to the State Livestock Sanitary Board. Animals commonly termed "downers" 

 or crippled animals, shall be tagged, as provided in rule 18, in the abattoir 

 pens for the purpose of identification at the time of slaughter, and shall be 

 passed upon in accordance with the regulations. 



POST-MORTEM EXAMINATIONS. 



29. The agent or local meat inspector on duty in the establishment shall 

 make a careful examination of all animals at the time of slaughter. The head, 

 tail, thymus, gland, bladder, omentum, and the entire viscera, and all parts 

 and blood used in the preparation of meat food products, shall be retained in 

 such manner as to preserve their identity until after the post-mortem exam- 

 ination has been completed, in order that they may be identified in case of 

 condemnation of the carcass. Suitable racks or metal receptacles shall be 

 provided for retaining such parts. 



Each ostab'i&hment at which complete inspection is maintained shall be given 

 an oflficial number, and shall be indicated by said number on all official reports, 

 stamps, marks, labels, etc. 



Carcasses and parts thereof found to be sound, healthful, wholesome and fit 

 for human food shall be passed, and in establishments where complete inspec- 

 tion is maintained they shall be stamped or marked by an agent of the State 

 Livestock Sanitary Board as follows: 



Upon each dressed beef carcass examined as above and passed there shall be 

 placed by an authorized representative of the State Livestock Sanitary Board 

 at the time of examination ten stamps or marks bearing the words "Examined 

 and Passed. Pa. Livestock Sanitary Board," and the ofl^cial number of the es- 

 tablishment. 



Upon the dressed carcasses of sheep, swine and goats examined as above and 

 passed there shall be placed by an authorized representative of the State Live- 

 stock Sanitary Board at the time of examination, a stamp or mark on each 

 quarter bearing the words "Examined and Passed. Pa. Livestock Sanitary 

 Board," and the official number of the establishment. 



Should any lesion of disease or other condition that would probably render 

 the carcass, or nny part or organ, unfit for food purposes be found on post- 

 morten examination such carcass, part, or organ, shall be marked immediately 

 with a tag bearing the words "Condemned. Pennsylvania Livestock Sanitary 

 Board." Carcasses, parts, or organs, so marked shall not be washed or trimmed 

 and should not be placed in the cooling room or in the refrigerator or ice box 

 with carcasses, parts or organs that have been passed. Such carcasses shall be 

 promptly disposed of as provided in rule 17 of these regulations. 



