Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-10-01
THE MILK QUESTION.
Testimony Before the Recorders Court
Yesterday Morning One Defend
ant AcnuItted.

hhN ANHhNNNa
Yesterday morning in the city court
before his honor, w. II. Field, re-
corder, Mr.. j. A. Ferris was tried for
selling adulterated milk. City Attor-
ney James w. Swayne appeared for
the city, and Robert Mozart, Esq, for
the defense. The case received the
earnest attention Of q large number Of
spectators who were present, and the
evidence as 1t was given was positive
on both sides.
DIR. L. B. Slauter, city physician,
stated that he had tested some
milk which was brought to him
by one OF the city officers;
that the officer informed him that
the milk had been bought of
Mr.. j. A. Ferris; that he tested this
milk with an instrument called lac
tometer, an instrument made for the
purpose OF testing milk. Taking the
percentage at q hundred, that this milk
contained 18 per cent. more of water
than should be in milk II 1t was apure
article. That pure milk from the COW
contained naturally SO per cent. Of
water.
Mr.. G. N. Klantser, chemist, and
Mr.. Chas. Gay, policeman, testified
for the city, their evidence corroborat-
ing that OF DR. Slauter.
The defense then introduced differ
ent authorities upon the subject of
milk and endeavored TO prove that
the lactometer was an instrument not
TO be depended upon, and also intro
duced respectable evidence that the
milk that was bought from his wagon,
and afterwards tested had not been
diluted in any manner.
Marshal Rea said they tested some
skim milk they had in a box, tenn
perature about go degrees, and II stood
at no. We then put In salt and
water and it stood at 95. He
then MIXED fresh COW and it stood
at % with temperature of 81 de-
grees. Then by putting in
about one-fourth water and salt 1t stood
at ITO. They then tried COW with an
older calf. This had a temperature OF
80 degrees and tested 100. They then
added salt and water and IL rose to 100
Mr.. Ferris did this in the presence Of
Marshal Rea to prove that the lacto-
meter is not good test.
uuIs HtIElh utSlIeu llhl du OlliCtE VI
other person should 60 and get milk
and have 1t brought in and tested in
the presence of the court.
Two physicians, one of whom Is
chemist, say that Mr.. Ferris milk had
Is per cent. water In II.
Mr.. Mozart read from an article In
Johnson's encyclopaedia, by Prof. Chand-
Ter, going to show that the lactometer
isnOt a safe test, and that it varies from
9S TO l22, according to age of COW, age
of calf, whether milk is skinned or
not and is different at different temper
atures and on different kinds of food.
1t was testified by one witness that
they were informed at the depot by Ed.
Maddox that there was to be test next
day, aud they had every incentive TO
send out pure milk on that day of all
days, and thus acquire areputation, and
he got left.
Both sides of the case rested at
about fifteen minutes after 10 o'clock,
and his honor carried Off the authori-
ties that had been introduced in order
to take them under ad visement. AT the
Resembling of the court in the after
noon his honor acquitted Mr.. Ferris
of the charges upon which he had
been tried. The other trials on the
same charges are set for next Thurs
daV