Evening star., 1896-11-14
FOOD ADULTERANTS
An Important Matter Considered by
the National Grange.
ADDRESSED BY an EMINENT CHEMIST
Report on the Condition of the
Agricultural Class.
ITS HEAVY Blu DE N

- -
The National Grange continued its ses-
sions at the National Hotel today. At 10
o'clock the grange went into open session,
and Professor H. w. Wiley, chemist of
the Department of Agriculture, addressed
the grange on Food Adulteration." Illus
trating his remarks by exhibiting number
| of samples of food products.
Professor Wiley began his remarks by
| stating that owing to scientific investiga-
| tion and feeding 1t took one-third less food
| to fatten pig than it did twenty years
ago. The chemists are now investigating
on the same line regards human food.
| Referring to food adulterations he said it
was as important to be well as to be nour-
ished. He directed attention to the use of
food and It's influence on health.
Authorizations consist of abstraction, ad-
dition and change of color. The majority
| Of these adulterations do not affect health
injuriously. He did not believe that man
ufacturers intended to injure health by
their use. Decomposition in food products
is caused by bacterial action. To preserve
vegetables and fruits this bacteria must be
destroyed and prevented from being alb
Sorbed.
The idea that the air should be kept out
was erroneous The air does nc hurt. A
piece OF SterluZeU COttOn OH tHe Top VI d
| jar would preserve its contents as well as
| II sealed up. All that is necessary is to ex-
clude the vegetable organisms that tend to
decay. 1t is cheaper to use certain pre-
ventives that arrested the growth of
these organisms. Chloroform is a good
preservative, as are other articles. but their
taste and odor are disagreeable. Therefore
the desire is to secure an article that Is
odorleSS and tasteleSs, and salacylic acid
furnishes the article best suited as an adul-
terant.
This acid taken in repeated doses Is inju-
rious to the digestive organs. II Is given
as medicine for rheumatism and gout, but
we were not all afflicted with these dis
eases 1t preserves food and at the same
time prevents digestion. He explained how
food is digested, and how the action of this
acid stopped digestion. He believed taken
even in small quantities it was Injurious,
and should never be used. In adopting a
pure food law. which was bound to come,
1t would be well to incorporate in the bill
clause preventing the use of anything
injurious to digestion.
Adulterated Food.
Butter could be colored without injury
but he deprecated the use of coal tar COL
ORIG. He did not say it was harmful, but
would not care to eat coal tar. The best
way 20 color butter is to feed the COWS
properly.
Prof Wiley exhibited samples of imita-
tion coffee grains. and said while not in
furious, they contained little strength. To
avoid getting adulterated ground coffee one
must see it ground. and even then one
would have to examine the mill.
He showed colorir g matter used In meats
and also spice adulterants. which, though
harmless were cheap, and 1t is not the
thing to pay the price Of pure spices and
get three-fourths cracker dust.
He next alluded amusingly to the theory
set up by the French chemist, Bertellon,
who claims that the time is coming when
Co. rryf1I t>1 -g,.k~ Il
the people will enjoy life. while the chemist
in the laboratory furnishes food and
clothes for them. The doctor did not think
there was any danger to the farmer from
this course of competition, at least for a
few million years to come. However, the
chemist had destroyed the indigo crop, and
was making sugar at this time, but before
the competition grew great the grange and
its purposes would have been accomplished
and it's members long passed away.
On motion Of Mr.. Devries OF Maryland
a rising vote of thanks was rendered Dr.
Wiley for his address. The resolution was
unanimously adopted.
The farmers Friends.
Some remarks were made as to congress
sional action and the farmers friends in
Congress. Mr.. Hale of New York said Mr..
Wilbur stood ready to stand by the farm
ers in theirsdemands for legislation.
Mr.. Wedderburn remarked that the trouble
who stand by them, without regard to
rarty aftiliation.
Under call of roll for new business, Mr.
Devries of Maryland introduced me-
mortal from the Prince Georges county
Pomona Grange, relative to a farmers mar
ket in Washington.
Other resolutions amending the ritualistic
work and the constitution were offered by
Messrs. Howe of Massachusetts, Smith of
Ohio and Rhone of Pennsylvania.
a resolution looking to helping weak
oranges was introduced by Mr.. Thompson
of South Carolina.
garding free mail delivery.
The states were called for reports, when
Messrs. Wilson Of Illinois, Judson of Iowa,
Cox of New Jersey. Smith of Ohio and High
Of Washington all submitted Interesting
and satisfactory reports.
Executive Committees Report.
The executive committee submitted it's
report, in part as follows:
"At no time in the history of our coun-
try have the people taken such an intense
interest in economic questions as in the
late political contest, which, We trust, will
secure the Inauguration Of policy that
will restore to the farmers an era of higher
prices for their products and relieve the
present greatly depressed condition Of agri-
culture.
In settling the monetary and tariff pol-
icy Of this country the rights of the agri-
cultural class must be respected as well as
the moneyed institutions, as the prosperity
of the country depends upon the general
profitableness of all our industries; the
farmers. comprising nearly SO per cent of
the population of our country, become the
principal customers of our manufacturing
institutions, as millions upon millions Of
dollars worth of machinery and agricu.-
tural supplies are used by the farming
Class. Therefore the manufacturers AMI
moneyed institutions cannot afford to Grip
LIE the farmer. who is their customer.
Upon the prosperity of agriculture de-
pends the prosperity of other Industries,
and under just economic conditions the
prosperity of other Industries will con-
tribute to the prosperity of agriculture.
Agriculture at the present time is suffer-
ing from disproportionate burdens, which.
If long continued. may cause such dis
astrous results as have overtaken the aRri-
cultural class in various foreign countries.
1t is therefore Of the greatest Importance
in settling the economic policy of this coun-
try that the interests Of agriculture be
given just recognition, and to secure this
the farmers of the United States must
stand manfully and resolutely upon the
broad platform demanding equal Justice.
In the adoption Of an economic policy Tor
the promotion of the agricultural Interests
we must take into consideration the com
petition which our surplus agricultural
products will meet in the markets of the
world. The development of home indus
tries and the diversification of crops will