SOCIETY MEETINGS. 
285 
finally called to pass upon carcasses in question. This inade¬ 
quate force is augmented by a consulting veterinarian, whose 
services are seldom called upon. The great number of slaughter¬ 
houses makes it impossible for the inspectors to complete their 
rounds in a week, yet every day slaughter goes on in these 
places. Better inspection is needed; central abattoirs are a 
necessity ; district slaughter-houses will be the only means of 
bettering the present conditions. He then spoke of the meat 
inspection of the large cities of Germany. In the abattoirs of 
Berlin, animals overheated or footsore are not allowed to be 
slaughtered. The deputy goes first, then the inspector comes, 
and he examines liver, lungs, and parts of carcass ; if not dis¬ 
eased it is stamped upon forearm, hip region, etc. If meat 
is found without this stamp a question is immediately raised 
and a fine imposed. The inspection of pork for trichinia is 
especially thorough, four sections being taken and subjected to 
microscopical test. Calves are watched : intestines and mesen¬ 
teric glands for tuberculosis ; lungs for verminous bronchitis ; 
if lean and unthrifty, are condemned on general principles. You 
cannot buy bruised or unhealthy meat of any kind. The horse 
meat to be sold must go under the same rigid examination and 
cannot be sold from the same store as other meats. He said by 
placing meat in cold storage the odor was kept down, and all 
meat coming from these places should be closely watched. He 
has seen here slaughter-houses in full operation with open doors 
next to houses infected with scarlatina, measles, diphtheria, etc., 
for the germs of which we have no better media than fresh raw 
meat. Thus every section into which this meat went was liable 
to a scourge of these diseases. The general public are entitled 
to better protection, and the best way to give it is first to awaken 
them to the true state of affairs through the columns 
of the press, and as the medical professions as a rule 
seem indifferent to the present state of affairs as regards the 
meat and milk supply of the community, from which they not 
only gain a livelihood but many of them a competency, it be¬ 
comes the duty of the veterinarian as a humanitarian to do all 
in his power to improve the present existing conditions. Dur¬ 
ing the general discussion the present deplorable state of affairs 
was more clearly shown, much of the meat now exposed for sale 
having the diseased parts trimmed off. The Chicago meat as a 
rule is better than home-dressed meat, as the inspection is more 
thorough, while the taxpayer and meat consumer feels secure, 
thinking the city fathers are protecting his health by a thorough 
