File No. 5869/72.
The Acting Secretary of
State to Ambassador White.
Department of State,
Washington, October 17,
1907.
No. 102.]
Sir: Referring to your dispatch No. 77, of the
10th ultimo, relative to the inquiry of the French Government with
reference to official inspection of salted pork in this country, the
department incloses herewith copy of letter from the Secretary of
Agriculture, dated the 10th instant. You are instructed to communicate
the information contained in this letter to the minister for foreign
affairs.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
The Secretary of
Agriculture to the Secretary of
State.
Department of Agriculture,
Washington, October 10,
1907.
Sir: Referring to your letter of the 27th
ultimo inclosing copy of a dispatch with inclosures from the
American ambassador at Paris regarding the inquiry of the French
Government with reference to the presence of trichinae in salted
pork, the inspection of salted pork for export, to determine the
presence or absence of trichinae, has been discontinued by this
department. It has been quite clearly shown that the usual methods
of curing salt pork are sufficient to
[Page 411]
destroy any trichinae which might be present.
Under such conditions any trichinae if present may be considered
innocuous and the meat wholesome. The universal custom in this
country of cooking meat before eating, during which process
trichinae are easily destroyed, is another reason for not having
microscopic inspection of pork.
I have, etc.,
