Show rk vi fJ L 0 MEATS IN GERMANY Almost a D Famine Improved Improved Methods off oft Slaughtering GUY ELLIOTT T MITCHELL From Prom time to time the United States Department of Commerce and Labor has received reports from Its various consuls In Germany giving accounts of a a. a meat famine In the The scarcity of cattle In Germany Is probably due primarily to the strict laws of that country forbidding importation Importation tation of live stock from countries In which certain animal diseases are known to exist The elaborate rate and complicated system of Inspections and prohibitions Imposed upon the importation Importation importation tation of meats and domestic animals by the new new meat inspection law of Germany which went Into effect a few months ago had bad the effect of increasing Increasing increasing ing the prices of pork beef veal and mutton by diminishing the available supply On account of a few cases of Texas fever which existed among the cattle coming from the southern and Western part of the United States live livestock livestock livestock stock from this country are excluded similarly because cases of foot and mouth disease were known to exist In r Russia Denmark and Sweden cattle from those countries are likewise denied denied denied de de- nied admission Soon after the new Inspection law was put Into effect the Imports of live livestock livestock livestock stock and meat supplies greatly decreased de de- decreased creased until the situation In Germany was extremely grave Prices asked for dressed meat went suite beyond the reach of many working people In the great busy cities clUes While It was reported report ed that the butchers and meat merchants merchants mer mer- chants were taking advantage of the situation and charging double prices investigation showed that they were In reality in serious difficulties for instead instead instead in in- stead of increased profits they were making less money than before the law went into effect A number of them announced to the municipal authorities authorities au au- au I their Intention to relinquish I their business Mass meetings have been held by citizens and meat dealers with an endeavor to Induce the authorities authorities au au- au to make the meat inspection laws less stringent nt but so far without result The mode model abattoir and cattle mar marr markets markets of Europe at the present time are areto areto areto to be found in Germany There are extensive and well equipped establishments establish ments meats in several large cities but those which are the newest with the latest Improvements and regarded as the best of all are at the old university town of Halle and at Mannheim on the Rhine J These are almost duplicate plants A Aas early as 1878 78 there were city abattoirs at Mannheim one for Jews and one for Christians In 1890 it was decided to construct a single new abattoir abattoir abat abat- abattoir In connection with the new market mart mar mar- ket t This r s w was completed p eted In May I y 1900 1900 THIS latter abattoir is a model 01 OI perfection perfection per per- ample provision being made for receiving animals and shipping dressed carcasses The visitor does not receive suggestions of ot slaughtering slaughter ing through any appearance of blood on surrounding walls nor does he smell it in the air as in many of the American slaughter houses Buildings Buildings Buildings Build Build- ings are of brick stone iron and glass of good appearance substantially and admirably adapted to their respective purposes All are supplied with hot and cold water live steam electric lights and either e em or electric power These operate a great grear tv r tv of mechanical saving labor saving appliances The hoisting apparatus Is handled so that manual lifting Is almost wholly avoided and by suspended tramways carcasses and other heavy parts may maT maybe maybe be moved In all directions In the killing killing kill kill- ing halls Artificial ventilation Is also provided so that every apartment may maybe maybe maybe be supplied with currents of fresh air dry and either cold or warm as de de- sired The rooms for slaughter are large light and airy Instead of little pens as is the usual case In France the arrangements at Mannheim are for fora a separate hall hallor for or every kind of animal animal ani- ani mal and a regular corps of butchers Is employed employed by the establish establishment ment meat Butchering Is Is comparatively speak speakIng Ing humanely done The lal large laree e ant ani mals are killed by a percussion gun gull attached to the bead head w with th a mask and an anthe the smaller ones are stunned by a 11 blow on the head and then bled 0 Of course the Jewish 11 Is accomplished ac at by a different method and according to tb the rites prescribed by bv that rell fon are pre preto present to supervise the slaughter and e erv rv quarter pas passed paned ed and for market mar ket Is branded The system of general drainage subterranean sub BUbo o conduits and service tram tram- r. ways is very complete Ample Amplo cleaning cleaning clean clean- ing lug facilities facUlties are aro constantly employed and these in conjunction with powerful powerful powerful power power- ful ventilating fans keep the tho establishment establishment establishment clean and odorless Every animal that enters the Berlin abattoir is inspected to see whether it is fit t to kill After animals are put putto putto putto to death those whose flesh Is considered considered consid ered absolutely dangerous are de do Owing to the prevalence ence of poverty the Carman Garman authorities are unwilling unwilling un willing to waste anything that can be saved Animals killed are divided into four cl cl cl- The first class consists of meat which is thoroughly sound this Is allowed to to go general mar mar- The second class con consists l ts of animals having ha p r ra a r- r I r ll n local loral disease disease disease dis dis- dis- dis ease which 1 rs not taint the bulk balk o or othe orthe the meat Tle The affected parts only are destroyed and the rest Is sold soH sll l direct to poor consumers in n not t exceeding six pounds The third clean el- el is that aJI which Ih Is s of a quality nalty so diseased diseased Dis dis- dis- dis eased that it cannot be safely sold in a raw state However it may be eaten enten without detrimental results if thor thoro sterilized It is accord accordingly subjected sub sub- jetted to a temperature of from to degrees in a a steam boiler boner and then sold to the poor like the rest The Tho fourth class animals are those which are so diseased as to merit total de de- destruction While it may appear loath loath- o Scene e in American Slaughter House How they do it 1 itin t t 1 f I in n Germany a Y 7 r. r some ome to American people to havo have a housewife buy meat from diseased animals animals an- an mals yet under such a system as is adopted in Germany when one goes to the he market house to buy a piece of ot sound meat he Is assured o of getting it He at least does not buy bad or diseased dis dis- eased ased meat thinking it is first rats rate A |