Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1884-03-28
"A New Danger from Bogus
Butter.

Butter.
Despite the warfare upon false
butter, it has held its own in the
markets Of the country. Oleomar-
garine, butterine. etc., are very
largely made. and the profits to the
man ufacturers are known to be
very large. The dairymen, how
ever. have not slackened the energy
of their warfare against bogus
butter, and at this time . committee
of the Senate of New York is dill
gently engaged in chemically an
alysing the spurious articles and
taking testimony relative to the
effects Of their use upon the health
of consumers. One witness was
recently examined who worked in
an oleomargarine factory. Though
but 30 years of age. the man was
prematurely old. Propped up in q
chair, he teld remarkable story
Soon after he began to work in the
factory his hands became sore and
raw; presently they began to swell;
the nails dropped off. his flesh lit
orally rotted, his hair came out and
his teeth loosened and fell out; the
liquid from the ''butter" rotted bis
clothing, and even his boots. His
health gave way and he had to be
taken to hospital. Other work
men were similarly afflicted, but
not SO severely. DR.. Pooler tes,i
fed that the man was suffering from
contact with nitric acid, which was
put into the o.eomargarine as pre-
servative. Nitric scid would have
precisely the effect on the human
system described by the witness
patient. It was also proven that
its use in bogus butter is for the
purpose of destroying the animal
tissue in the fatty substances used.
The committee also examined into
the use of cotton seed oil by the
false butter makers, when it de.
veloped that it is a danger
oas article and has long been used
among negroes at the South for ne
farious purpose. The essential
properties are dangerous to the
health Of women; in some respects
more so than ergot. DR.. Pooler
testified that its use produced ster-
ility, and it was his solemn belief
that the phenomenal increase of
still births in New York since 1879
was due to adulterated butter. OF
course the manufacturers laughed
at this testimony, and stated their
readiness, if given time. to pro-
duce witnesses of equal credible
ity to contradict the expert physi-
clan. Whether or not DR.. Pooler's
conclusions are sound, their pro-
lection into the bogus butter de-
bate should be sufficient to awaken
ths closest inquiry. Such an is
sue cannot be sneered at, and it will
no. do to ignore it. Sanitarians
and Boards of Health must now
displsce grocers aud commercial
men in the examination of the ques-
ton. 1t is the poorer class Of our
citizens who are most imposed
upon by the sale of bogus for pure
butter. and while in our State there
is a regulative law regarding the ar
ticle,it promises to become health
question, one that may dispose of
regulation by substituting prohi-
bition. The cupiaity of man can
not be regulated by statute If
bogus butter may be made at all
there can be given no actual guar
antee that only harmless ingredi-
ents will be used. AS DR.. Newton,
of Paterson. N. j., testified, there
would be no danger in using ole
margarine if the manufacturers
would only use pure materials, but
unprincipaled men would take the
fat Of diseased animals. We do not
assume to say that the testimony of
DR. Pooler applies to the bogus but
ter made CT sold in California, be-
cause we have no information on
that point. but We do say that the
developments in New York are
worthy our serions consideration.
Record Union.
Tho lyon Counfv T;rooo eoro -