FLESH EATING AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.
By B. F. Richards, M. D.
A REPORT from Health Officer D. F. Ragan, M. D., of San Francisco, covering the months of January, February, and a portion of March, has been filed, and in order that the many readers of the SIGNS OF THE TIMES may see more clearly the dangers lurking in flesh food, I give in this article a few facts and figures from the doctor's report. In the month of January there were 78,399 dressed carcasses, and 91,835 turkeys and chickens inspected, from which the inspectors condemned 3,090 pounds of beef, 409 calves, 233 sheep, 315 chickens, 1,290 pounds of game, 9 lambs, and 13 hogs. In February they inspected 89,701 dressed carcasses, and 113,975 chickens and turkeys, from which they condemned as unfit for food and a menace to the lives of the consumers, 8,330 pounds of beef, 1,684 chickens, 334 calves, 104 sheep, 2 lambs; 6 hogs, 64 wild game, and 9,660 pounds of fish; 16,303 gallons of milk were inspected, some of which proved to be so impure that five men were arrested and $100 collected as fines; eight cows were quarantined and five cows killed. During the month of January there were 726 deaths and 490 births, 236 deaths more than births. In February there were 653 deaths and 476 births, 177 more deaths than births. From March 1 to 28 there were 534 deaths and 404 births, 130 more deaths than births. What greater evidence should thinking men and women require to convince them that there is something fearfully wrong somewhere? Have the diseases, so frequently found in flesh food, anything to do with the death-rate of to-day? It looks as if we had reached the time spoken of by the prophet Hosea, in chapter 4:1-3: "Hear the word of the Lord, ye children of Israel; for the Lord hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood toucheth blood. Therefore shall the land mourn, and every one that dwelleth therein shall languish. With the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away." The death-rate in San Francisco for the last three months has increased far beyond the births, so if this condition continues, it must be apparent to every sane person that this city, in order to hold to its present size, must depend on those coming from the outside. Crime of every description is greatly on the increase. Stealing is resorted to by those financially distressed, as well as by the strong-monied trusts. We have seen so much of it of late that we expect it now. Compare the crimes of to-day with those mentioned in the above scripture, and see if we can not expect at this time an increase of disease in the whole animal family, owing to the wickedness of the human family.