184 
LEONARD PEARSON. 
Municipal slaughter-houses are in most cases model estab¬ 
lishments. They contain all of the latest improvements in con¬ 
struction and all of the approved modern appliances for the 
rapid, economical, and wholesome preparation and preservation 
of meat. They are in most cases supplied with smooth cement 
floors suitably drained. They have brick or tiled walls, hot 
and cold water, arrangements for rapidly hoisting and moving 
animals and carcasses, and appropriate and adequate cold stor¬ 
age facilities. They are plentifully illuminated and ventilated 
and are kept in a condition of perfect cleanliness, and alto¬ 
gether are as different from some of the small, close, dark and 
ill-smelling little slaughter-houses of Philadelphia as a palace 
from a hovel. 
This system of controlling the meat supply is not confined 
to Germany alone, but is followed in nearly all parts of Europe 
and by a number of cities in Great Britain. In this country, 
the cities of New Orleans and Montgomery have also adopted the 
municipal abbatoir system and with the most satisfactory results. 
When carried out thoroughly and properly the control of 
the meat supply gives important returns in many ways. It is, 
first of all, a great protection to the consumers of meat and in 
the cities in which it has been established, helminitic diseases, 
meat poisoning and tuberculosis have been very materially re¬ 
stricted. Moreover, the meat that reaches the market is of a 
more attractive and nutritious character, and can be eaten with 
confidence and relish. This alone is a great gain. A general 
system of meat inspection is also of the highest value in con¬ 
trolling the diseases of animals. The statistics as to the preva¬ 
lence of disease made by meat inspectors are the most complete 
and valuable that we possess. Another advantage of this prac¬ 
tice is that it helps the honest butcher who wishes to furnish 
nothing but good meat to his customers, because it makes it un¬ 
necessary for him to compete with the man who sells carrion. 
Objections to this plan come from two sources: From the 
owners of private slaughter-houses, who do not wish to be dis¬ 
turbed, and from people who believe that if all slaughtering 
