700 CATTLE AND DAIRY FARMING. 



Liege, assembled in the laboratory at Liege, January 20, 1883, to witness the method 

 of Dr. Closset, declare: 



This method consists in preserving fresh meat in an artificial air. Four pieces of fresh 

 meat a rib of beef, a round of veal, a leg of mutton, and a shoulder of pork were 

 placed, separately, in air-tight tin boxes, which were deposited in the glazed cellar of 

 the laboratory of Liege. Then we reassembled on the 22d of February, a good month 

 afterwards. The boxes, identically the same, were opened in our presence, and we pro- 

 test that the meat was preserved perfectly fresh, not even having the look of frozen 

 meat, which, when thawed, looks repulsive and becomes soft and moist and loses its fine 

 qualities in the eating. Having cut the meat, we found the fat, the tissues, the bones, 

 and the marrow of the bones, even the blood, extracted from certain parts of the pieces, 

 perfectly fresh. 



After these different experiences we tasted some slices, after having had them cooked 

 naturally, and we were struck with their taste and their tenderness. They had acquired 

 that degree of tenderness, by their being deprived of air and being pressed, which is a 

 condition necessary for an easy digestion. 



These pieces of meat have been hung in a triangle in the glazed gallery above men- 

 tioned, exposed to the south; we have observed them every day till the 6th of March, 

 and we have found them totally free from corruption and very wholesome, consequently 

 we declare the process of Dr. Closset perfect in the aim proposed. 



REPORT OF SECOND COMMISSION. 

 Experiments made at the slaugJiter-house at Liege on the 9th of March, 1883. 



In presence of Mr. L. Browier, medicine veterinaire, director of the slaughter-house 

 at Liege, also inspector of the butcher-market of Liege ; L. Dejuce, doctor; A. Ansiant, 

 avocat, and A. Darvans, industriel, in whose presence was made the following expe- 

 rience. 



Two huge pieces of beef and of veal were inclosed separately in two boxes by Dr. Closset, 

 according to the system of which he is the inventor. 



The first box containing the veal was opened after three weeks; the meat after being 

 exposed to the air was still intact, and continued so eight days after being taken out of 

 the box, in all, forty-six days after being killed. The meat in the two boxes presented a 

 natural color and spread a fresh odor, and when cooked had exactly the taste and smell 

 of fresh meat. In a word, its physical qualities were those of fresh meat; which is cer- 

 tified by the numerous witnesses present, among whom were Messrs. Nelf-Arban, re- 

 prisentant; Jules Frisart, bornquier; D. Closset, industriel; de Vaux, engineer; Delorme 

 de Nossius, bornquier, &c. 



What is above all to be remarked is that after being taken out of the boxes the meat 

 can stay exposed to the air, without losing any of its qualities, ten or fifteen days, and 

 which in all the other operations hitherto tried the meat must be eaten immediately 

 after being exposed to the air. 



REPORT OF THIRD COMMISSION. 



Report of tlie commission to which has been referred the account of Mr. Closset, entitled "A 

 study experimental of the possibility of the preservation of meat, fresh, from beyond seas for 

 animal food in Europe.*' 



GENTLEMEN: I have the honor of giving you an account of the examination we have 

 made, M. Dessaire and I, of the report addressed to the company by Mr. Closset, doctor 

 of Liege, having for title "Experimental study for meat from beyond seas, fresh, for ani- 

 mal food in Europe." 



In the actual social condition of Europe, animal food for the working class is abso- 

 lutely necessary. It is also clearly shown that in the middle and southern part of Eu- 

 rope the production of cattle is far from sufficient for the animal food of its inhabitants. 

 After having shown the benefit it would be for the health of the working classes, whole- 

 Bome animal food to repair their wasted strength daily, and which at the present time is 

 BO far above their means of procuring. 



