New-York tribune., 1884-01-28
THE TIN.CAN QUESTION.
or The TrfGune.

To IN e E6tfOF or Ihe ITtOHHes
SIR: 1t is said that person is biased in his
opinions by his business occupations. Yet atlolgh
my business packing frits and vegetables do not be-
neve my ncnt at all biased thereby when assert
that do believe there has ever been genuine case
OF tin-can poisoning" No one will contradict the as
seron that the greater the consumption per capita OF
such fruit the numerous should be the eases Oh
tn-can poisoning" Now right in this country the con-
sumption is probably greater per capita than anywhere
else vet We have never had single case OF" tn-can
poisonng" In this Country the suspicion of one.
There are families IN this country, and am within the
mark when say thousands OF them who consume an
average Of 200 pounds per annum per capita OF such
goods and have done for the last six years So that
we have a totai consumption per capita during that time
Of 200 pounds such goods Allowing the lowest es-
innate OF solution Of tin given IN TIE TRIBUNE viz two
grains per pound have total OF 2,4O0 grains OF tin
consumed in six years by each person And allowing
only per OF this to be cumulative in its effects
there viii be an average Of 100 grains Of lin in the sys
TEN of each OF the great majority OF the people in this
country. Such state OF affairs would be sufficient TO
create ~ epidemic of tin-can poisoning" Yet we
have never had a single ease.
It has been the custom Of many families, and especially
the poorer classes who consume the largest amount Of
canned goods per capita. to have their old cans reted
and th. often for four and tive years in succession.
Now Wc all know that the solution of tin. IN such fruit
would far greater than in the fIut contained In
cans Allowing 10 be as great as the highest amount
stated IN THE TRIBt in which the presence OF
ro,iOn was scarcely perceived and We have total
of 5000 grains OF tin introduced into the system
annually and this has been going on III this country IN
instances for ten years, yet We have no uu-can
poi,oung." A-ain. | ana personally acquainted with
family OF i've persons who consumed OF such lruit
is mentioned above, IN six days which. according to
statement given in THE TEB NEwOuld give an aver
a,e OF about thirty grains OF tin To each person daily.
Yet thcre visible sign of tln-Can poisoning"
/ heartily induT5e the concluding paragraph Of TnE
TRBUNEs article but VIII venture the prophecy that the
substitution for tin recepaces FOR preserved
articles of food viii DE neither glass nor earihenwaIe
Yankee who invent such article, and reap iOr-
thereby while shall be content with the honor or
having suggested the idea. NOW let NJ see VINO can
really benefit mankind 10y furnishing material Tor pre-
serving food which shall be above suspicion ul being &c
lccriO, health and at the same time capable or peiuS
reused when lis contcnts have been consumed.
PldssriUe jLf Ian. - 1854 PACKER
lOur correspondents complaint IS properly against
the doctors who have pronounced certain and
numerous cases OF sickness 10 have been due to
poisoning by canned fruits and meats, and the
chemists who declare that analysis reveals the pres
ence of anoxous solution Of metal in such food pro
ducts Having already presented the doctors aud
chemists side of the case, THE TRIBUNE takes
pleasure in giving the fruit-packeIs version equal
publicity, and hopes that the controversy will only
promote the best interests of both the producers
and the consumers OF canned goods. The former
are worthy Of much consideration They have built