Our slaughter-house system : a plea for reform / [C. Cash].

  • Cash, C.
Date:
1907
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Our slaughter-house system : a plea for reform / [C. Cash]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    to be on the spot if required. Large abattoirs have their own engineers to superintend the machinery. Working hours depend on local requirements. It is a principle, however, that no inspection can take place at night, nor can slaughtering be performed at night, except in cases of absolute necessity, or where the slaughtering-halls are perfectly illuminated with electric arc lights. The length of the working hours greatly affects the income of the abattoir, and also, as we have said, the size of the slaughtering-rooms. It will be the object of the municipal authorities to shorten the hours as much as possible, and if this is to be done the matter should be settled as soon as the abattoir is opened. The expenditure for steam, light, and water will be thus reduced to its utmost limits, and even with regard to the staff there will be a saving, as the men, if they are to work energetically, should never be on duty for more than ten consecutive hours. For longer hours a larger staff wrould have to be engaged and working expenses would increase. With a viewr to the work being carried on in an orderly manner, it is forbidden to slaughter during the last hour before closing-time, so that every man has full time to finish whatever work he is engaged on. If slaughtering is done at any other than the regulation time a double fee is charged. By enforcing these rules, the butchers soon growr accustomed to orderly methods of business, and all the more readily because a reserve of meat for sale can always be kept in the cold store of the abattoir. The time during which the cold store may be visited must also be regulated, in order to lessen working expenses, and cards of admission at a reasonable price— e.r/., sixpence—be issued. In this way things will be done in a business-like manner.