ADMINISTRATION OF IMPORTANT REGULATORY LAWS 75 



Under the federal system of inspection, at least two ex- 

 aminations are made in all cases. While the ante-mortem 

 examination is not now a requirement of the law, it is made 

 in practically every instance primarily as an aid to a more 

 effective post-mortem examination. Generally, the ante- 

 mortem inspection is performed in the pens or yards just 

 before the animals enter the plant. If any of a lot of animals 

 shov/ symptoms of disease, the entire lot is subjected to 

 further and individual inspection. When the appearance of 

 any animal is such as to cause the inspector to suspect that 

 it is aftected with disease that may warrant its condemna- 

 tion in whole or in part on the post-mortem inspection, it is 

 marked for identification by means of a numbered metal 

 tag marked " U. S. Suspect," A record of the tag number 

 and any other pertinent information is sent to the inspector 

 in charge of the post-mortem examination. This informa- 

 tion is given due weight by him in determining the final 

 disposition of the animal. " Suspects " are slaughtered sep- 

 arately from those which are passed on the ante-mortem ex- 

 amination. Animals which are found in such condition as 

 to be unfit for food are marked " U. S. Condemned," and 

 must be destroyed or disposed of in such manner as to pre- 

 vent their use for food. 



The post-mortem inspection really consists of a series of 

 examinations. These include an examination of the entire 

 carcass immediately after slaughter, and later an examina- 

 tion of each of the parts. Where the output is small one 

 inspector performs all the inspections. In large institutions 

 the work is so arranged that each inspector gives his entire 

 attention to some particular part. In this way each becomes 

 a specialist, with the result that a high degree of individual 

 and collective proficiency is attained. 



Animals or parts thereof found to be free from disease or 

 any doubtful condition are marked "Inspected and Passed"; 

 those in which any disease or doubtful condition is found 

 arc retained for final examination. 



An important requirement in the conduct of the jiost- 



