The Kentucky “Meat Shower” of 1876

by Brian Stevenson
last updated August, 2014

A microscope slide recently appeared at auction that has a very unusual history, or rather, a very unusual specimen. The slide is labeled “Kentucky Meat-shower of 1876”, and carries a piece of animal flesh (Figure 1).

According to The New York Times, on March 9 of that year, a considerable number of pieces of meat fell from the clear sky. Most were the size of the mounted specimen, although one was 3-4 inches square. An area of ground 100 by 50 yards was covered with meat pieces. Two overly-curious men reported that the meat tasted like mutton or venison (Figure 2).


Figure 1. Microscope slide of a remnant of the Kentucky Meat Shower of 1876. The specimen was originally mounted by Arthur M. Edwards, and remounted by Charles Finney Cox (1846-1912). The slide was found in a collection in Ohio, USA, probably via Cox’s brother Jacob Dolson Cox (1828-1900), who lived in Ohio from ca. 1851 onward. Image adapted from an internet auction site.

 


Figure 2. The March 9, 1876, New York Times story on the Meat Shower.

 

Needless to say, there was considerable speculation about the origin of the falling meat, including whether it was truly animal tissue. Dr. Arthur Mead Edwards, of the Newark (New Jersey) Scientific Association and Microscopist to the Geological Survey of New Hampshire, gathered samples from the Meat Shower and used microscopic analyses to determine that the substance truly was animal flesh. He published his findings in the July 22, 1876 issue of Scientific American, “Sir: In your Supplement for July 1st is an article, taken from the ‘Sanitarian’, on the Kentucky meat-shower, and, introducing the article, you express an opinion that we have therein a solution of the question as to what the substance constituting the meat-shower was, in Mr. Brandeis' assertion that it consisted of masses of nostoc, a low form of vegetable existence. As the public seems to be still interested in the matter, and as, apparently, they have not yet learned what it really is, permit me say a few words thereon. We have in the city of Newark, N.J., an active, wide-awake organization known as the Newark Scientific Association, at the meetings of which novel scientific matters are discussed and sifted. At one of our meetings, for the first time, the true solution of Mr. Edison's so-called ‘etheric force’ took place; and at our meeting in March last the Kentucky meat-shower was discussed, and at that time I made a communication reviewing what was known with regard to so-called showers of meat, blood, and colored matters generally. At that time, and before I had seen any specimens from Kentucky, I expressed an opinion that it would turn out to be nostoc. When, then, I saw Mr. Brandeis' communication, I felt convinced that he had solved the problem, and knowing him well, I called on him to see if he could give me a specimen of the original article. He kindly placed his whole supply in my hands, and informed me that it had been received from Prof. Chandler, who gave it to a physician in Brooklyn, who in turn gave it to him, Mr. B. Soon after, Dr. Allan McLane Hamilton published a letter in the ‘New York Medical Record’, wherein he said that he had received a piece of the Kentucky Shower from Prof. Chandler, and a microscopic examination of it by himself and Dr. J.W.S. Arnold revealed the fact that it consisted of lung tissue either from a human infant or a horse, the structure of the organ in these two cases being very similar. At once I called on Dr. Hamilton, and he likewise placed his specimens in my hands, at the same time in forming me that two morsels of the shower had been sent from Kentucky to the editor of the ‘Agriculturist’; that gentleman placed them in the hands of Prof. Chandler. One went to Dr. Hamilton, the other to Brooklyn, and eventually into the hands of Mr. Brandeis. So I evidently had the whole matter in my possession. On examination I found Dr. Hamilton's specimen to be, as he stated, lung tissue, in one portion of which cartilage was to be seen beautifully exhibited. Mr. Brandeis' specimen, when examined by means of the microscope, turned out to be lung tissue also, but not in as good a state of preservation as the first mentioned. Soon thereafter I was shown by Prof. J. Phin, of the ‘American Journal of Microscopy’, a prepared specimen sent from Kentucky to Mr. Walmsley, of Philadelphia, which was undoubtedly striated muscular fibre. And subsequent thereto he showed me another specimen sent to him by Mr. A.T. Parker, of Lexington, Ky., which was also striated muscular fibre. Being determined to follow the matter up, I wrote to Mr. Parker, and he very kindly sent me three specimens, two in the natural state as they fell, and one prepared and mounted for the microscope. The last-named consists entirely of cartilage; one of the others is likewise a mass of cartilage, while the remaining portion shows a few striated muscular fibres, along with what appears to be dense connective tissue, but in such a condition that its exact character can not be well made out. I am promised further specimens and information by Mr. Parker, who has been unsparing in his endeavors to elucidate the mystery, whilst he has been at the same time extremely liberal in the matter of distributing specimens. So much for the facts. Every specimen I have examined has proved to be of animal origin, showing that the Kentucky shower was a veritable ‘meat’ shower. As to whence it came I have no theory. Mr. Parker informs me that the favorite theory in the locality is, that it proceeded from a flock of buzzards who, as is their custom, seeing one of their companions disgorge himself, immediately followed suit. In fact, such an occurrence has been actually seen to occur, so that it would seem that the whole matter is capable of a reasonable and simple explanation, and we may expect to hear of similar downfalls in other localities”.

Parker’s hypothesis is the most reasonable and widely accepted origin of the meat shower. Vultures are known to disgorge the contents of their crops when panicked, as a defense mechanism and, possibly, to lighten themselves for fast escape. As a resident of central Kentucky, the author of this essay can attest that that large flocks of vultures are very common during March. Fortunately, I have yet to be vomited upon by them.


Figure 3. Arthur Mead Edwards (1836-1914). Adapted from The American Monthly Microscopical Journal, July, 1896.

 


Figure 4. Charles Finney Cox (1846-1912), from an 1893 biography in "New York, the Metropolis: Its Noted Business and Professional Men".

 

Resources

Edwards, A. Mead (1876) The Kentucky meat-shower, Scientific American, Vol. 2, page 473

Feinstein, Julie (2011) Turkey Vulture, in Field Guide to Urban WildlifeStackpole Books, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, pages 134-138

Landis-Foster-Hutton Family Tree (accessed August, 2014) information on the life of A.M. Edwards, http://landisfamilytree.blogspot.com/2010_01_01_archive.html

The New York Botanical Garden Archives and Manuscripts: Charles Finney Cox Papers (accessed August, 2014) http://www.nybg.org/library/finding_guide/archv/cox_ppf.html

New York Times (1876) Flesh descending in a shower, an astounding phenomenon in Kentucky – fresh meat like mutton or venison falling from a clear sky, March 9

Smiley, C.W. (1896) Sketch of the life of Arthur Mead Edwards, M.D., The American Monthly Microscopical Journal, Vol. 18, pages 227-228

Sprague, John F. (1893) New York, the Metropolis: Its Noted Business and Professional Men, New York Recorder, pages 200-201