A MEAT MATTER. Tin Pot Reform.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 132, 10 January 1903, Page 8

A MEAT MATTER. Tin Pot Reform.

WE aie confronted with anew microbe of special virulence at every corner. We ought to shave clear., considering that beards weie given to mam by an all-seemg Providence m order to make him a medium of disseminating disease. We should place our clothes in a solution of carbolic acad overnight to escape the terrors of disease, and we certainly ought to v. ear aluminium boots, as the leather vaaiety constitute an orchard whereon may thrive millions of bactena, leadv at a moment's notice to land us into aai earlier grave than we bargained for. The trailing skirt is condemned as a fruitful dissemmctcr of disease, but the scavamger's broom, which does the same w ork in other cities than Wellington in stirring up the bacteria, is not attacked. * • • Great piecautions are taken in NewZealand to provide against disease. Should a suspected rodent show his nose in this country, a si^ce is proclaimed. Should a, tuberculous cow, who has had tuberculous relatives for a few ages past, be discovered by a microbe maniacal department, she is slaughtered w ithout mercy, although Dr. Koch, the highest authority on germs, says that the danger of infection from beast to human being is infinitesimal. A patient is quarantined for nine weeks in case he should have smallpox, and a leprous Maori is allowed to return to the bosom of his family to get cured. But, let that pass. There is no doubt that due care is exercised in the canning of meat and other provisions. It is not reasonable to suppose that germs of disease are wilfully imprisoned by vendors, but — they get there just the same. Christ church has, at present, a large number of people suffering more or less severely from poisoning. The poison had developed in tins containing corned beef. It tasted all right. It looked all right But, the deadly microbe happened to be there. He probably would not have been there, with his numeious offspring, if the casing had not been made of metd. Theie are seventeen persons now in Christchvich, ir,oie or less poisoned, who probably would not be paying doctor's) bills and feeling w retched if the vessels containing that meat had been earthenware or eiiamelwaie * * * Auienca is by far the laigest "cannei" of edibles, and a Congiessional Committee recently decided that all tinned goods were unsafe. It does not seem to have stemmed the torrent of Yankee goods into this country, however. It is rather a queer thing that people living m a large city should want to eat tinned meat at all. It is probably laziness that induces the habit. Many v.omen, who would refuse anything except the primest cuts of raw meat, will court death by eating tinned meat, and by giving it to their families. The meat-canning industry is a great and thriving one m

New Zealand, and to seek to harm it would be unjust, but might it not be a meat "bottling" country instead of a meat "canning" one? • • • Surely, some vessels safer than the tinned-iron ones now used might find favour in the sight of the meat kings of New Zealand. It would be more expensive, of course, but the vessels might be used over and over again, besides bein.3 a boon to the housewife- in the jam-making season. If only seventen persons are poisoned in New Zealand in a year, and it is found that they need not. have been poisoned had they not partaken of tinned meat, it is time to abolish the present style of canning goods. Goodness knows, the wily microbe is active enough oustide the tins, and to can him up and make him. strong for attack gives one a creepy feeling. Don't can him any more.