FOURTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VI. 425 



out Of that quarantine district only in accordance with the regulations 

 of the Department of Agriculture; and, except for a short period dur- 

 ing the winter, they may be shipped only for immediate slaughter. 



Importance of inspection. The importance of a strict enforcement 

 of these laws can hardly be overestimated. The export trade in live 

 stock and dressed meats amounts to many million dollars per year. 

 Foreign governments will prohibit the entrance of American meats into 

 their markets if it is found that they are diseased. In 1881 Germany, 

 France and other European countries prohibited the entrance of our 

 pork into their markets, claiming that it was affected with trichina*. 

 We sold to France and Germany alone 113,000,000 pounds of pork in 

 1880. Later Great Britain refused admission' to our cattle and sheep 

 on the ground that they were diseased. This resulted in the adoption 

 by the United States Government of rigid measures to protect our live 

 stock interests by aggressively combatting all known cases of contagious 

 disease, and finally adopting systematic inspection at the leading cen- 

 ters of live stock shipment and consumption. This inspection increased 

 from twelve cities and twenty-eight abattoirs in 1892, to fifty-twb cities 

 and 157 abattoirs in 1901. Today no government in the world exercises 

 more careful supervision of the healthfulness of its meat supply than 

 does the United States of America. Not only have the inspectors done 

 their work in this country, but trained American veterinarians are sta- 

 tioned abroad to take observations on the condition of American live 

 stock and meats as received in the great ports of Europe. 



Inspection in the yards. Soon after the receipt of animals in the 

 yards they are inspected by a veterinarian. Animals suffering from a 

 disease or injury which makes them unfit for food are condemned to the 

 rendering works. The same applies to animals which arrived at the 

 yards dead, as occurs daily with hogs and sheep, and occasionally with 

 cattle. Animals in poor condition and under suspicion as unfit for 

 food are marked with metal tags in the ears, and are placed in special 

 pens for further observation or slaughter. These animals are slaught- 

 ered under the supervision of attendant veterinarians, and records are 

 made of each case. In cases of animals which are out of form in some 

 respect, yet not unfit for food, the meat is sold to local buyers. In the 

 yard inspection it may happen that some animals fall under suspicion 

 that will later be allowed to go with the passed animals as being salable 

 on open market. 



Cows within a month of parturition, and for ten days after, will be 

 subject to condemnation. In the slaughterhouses the meat of all cows 

 that have calves inside with the hair on is condemned. So also are all 

 pregnant cows near parturition, hogs with bunches, boils, cuts on hams 

 and shoulders, etc. "Bob." or "deacon" calves are condemned, and also 

 sheep emaciated and in bad condition. 



The live stock exchange holds itself responsible for the disposal of 

 condemned animals, and after deducting cost of the service, pays to the 

 owner of the condemned animal whatever balance may come to his credit. 

 No animal is a complete loss, as the fertilizer and soap factories can 

 use the lowest grade of flesh. 



