Abattoirs: a Paper Read Before the Polytechnic Branch of the American Institute, June 8, 1866

Abattoirs: A Paper Read Before The Polytechnic Branch Of The American Institute, June 8, 1866 by Thomas Farrington De Voe. This tract examines slaughterhouses, or abattoirs, as a practical necessity rather than an elegant topic, tracing their historical development from religious rites to urban institutions. It surveys early private and public slaughtering practices in New York City, including the Bowery Bull’s Head and the public slaughter-houses established along the East River and Corlear’s Hook, and recounts the political and legal struggles surrounding their location, regulation, and fees. The author then expands the scope to Europe, detailing the Paris abattoirs under Napoleon I, their architecture, drainage, water systems, and guild governance, alongside observations of British facilities in London, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Throughout, the paper argues that slaughter-houses have not proven to be unhealthy nuisances, citing health reports and cholera eras to support a tempered view. It presents petitions by butchers, municipal debates, and reform efforts, offering a historical perspective on how urban meat production interfaced with public health and policy.