The times., 1897-10-29
PURE FOOD LEGISLATION
The Subject Considered at the
Chemists Convention.
An Initiative Taken Which Will
Doubtless Lead to Important Re-
suits Interesting Treatises.

The sessions Of the annual convention of
the OFFICIAL Association of American Agri-
cultural Chemists, which were begun at
the Columbian University last Tuesday,
were continued yesterday President WIN.
Fre6r presided. DR.. J. B. Lindsey Ph. D.,
read a reporton me thpdsof analyzins cattle
foods and feeding stuffs, in which he gave
some important facts concerning the re-
cent discovery or the group of subjects
known rs ''pentcsans.
Dr II. " Wiley 3 chief chemist Of the
Department of agriculture, presented from
The Department laboratory some important
results bearing upon the analysis of starch.
Prof b. II Kngoie, State chemist OF MIS-
sissippi, read report, enbodying some
important results bearing upon the deter
inination oil fats fnf0od stufrs.
These reports were referr ed for con =
sideration To committee on recommends
tion, consisting OF the following delegates.
J. NJ Bartlett, che mist, Maine agricultural
experiment station; DR. NJ. A. Scoyeil, chem
ist, Kentucky experiment station; FrOf'
II j. Wheeler, chemist Rhode Island eA
pertinent station; Dr. L. $. Van slyke.
chenis', New York State experiment sta
tion, and Dr. II. Hite, chemist. West
Virginia experiment station.
Dr. II W. WiIeypresentea report ofthe
committee appointed two years ago TO
consider the subject OF pure food iegisla
tion. The committee recommended the
passage of a ma tional pure food law, which
should he a type for State legislation
on the same subject and thatthe associa
ticn pass resolutions favoring the enact
inent of pure food law similar 10 that
presented by Representative Paddock sew
eraI years age but embodyiug several inn
portanI qualifications.
Dr. Van SIyke presented report on
dairy products With especial reference to
the methods of determining casein and al
bumen in nillk II gave several new meth
| odS for the determination Of adulteration
| in GARY products. He suggested certain
standards for dairy products.
Dr. " ID. BigeIow, VINO, with Mf. w 5.
Sweetzer OF the Pennsylvania Expert
| ment Station. had been charged at the last
annual meeting with the consideration of
| the determination Of adulteration In food
subjects ia general, presented a coiupr .
| hensiYn report, recommending the use OF
| certain methods for the analysis 0f flours,
| taking powders, cream OF tartar spirits,
| wines and vinegars. at the conclusion
| OF the morning session the following con,
! uittee on resolutions was appointed:
Messrs. J P. Street, ]. I. Anderson and
| " A Withers.
| The afternoon session was begun at
| O'Clock. Or. E. W Allen, of the De
partment Of Agriculture, read the report
on he Committee on abstracts, a committee
charged with abstracting current analyti
| cal literature. Prof. B. w Klgore read
| the report OF the committee on volumetriC
standards Mr. John II. Yocum, chemist
of tie United States Leather Company, ana
associate reporter on the subject of method;
Of determining the analysts Of tanning
materials, read report ON embracing soms
recent adveHCes ia these lines.
The committee on abstracts was con
| tinucd for the purpose of communicating
with the International Congress .
| Chemists. to meet in Vienna, with ref
erence To this important matter, With re
| gard TO the edQprIal Of the absolute lite
| as the standard yf voiumetric measure
| incnt The Committee was enlarged witt
| the addition OF Prof. II W. Wiley and
| Prof. G. C. Caldwell, of Cornell University
| DR.. NJ A Sooveil. OF Kentucky and Prof
y. NJ. Peters were appointed to revise the
| phraseology used IN the official method o
ana!yzing soils.
The president a1n0unced the following
! referees for the ensuing year. PhospHoriC
acid, Prof. b. W. Kite; nitrogen, Prof. h
Davidson; potash, c. IL, Jones; dairy prod
ucts, c. L. Kenny; foods, Prof. F. W
| Norse; liquors and food adulteration, ". F
Swcetser: sugars, Samuel Avery; tannin
John II Yocum.
ssistants-Phosphoric acid, E. G Run
Jon; nitrogen Mr. Shirer; potash, Prof
b. B. Ross; soils, Mr. Hartwell; dairy prod
| acts, Prof Weems: foods, W H. Krug
sugars, Prof. Fuller; tannin, Oma Carr
abstracts, DR.. f. W. Allen; W. II. Beall
| Or. j II. Lindsay, Prof. j. F Anderson
j. Philips Street, F ". VOL, L. H. Mer
rill and DR.. B. H. Hile.
Resolutions were passed thanking thr
Columbian University, the Cosmos Club an
Secretary of A agriculture Wilson for cour
tesies offered. The convention adjourned
at 3 O'Clock sine die, to meet BeAt fal
at the call of the executive committee.
The work of the association has cuvere
more ground at this convention than eve
before, and the initiative has been takel
which viii doubtless lead TO impoEta nj. re
suits in new fields of work The association
already holds a commanding position aruOn
the worlds organizations of analytba
chemists. and It is confidently believe
that the lines along which the associa: to
is developing viii give to It's deliberation
eveu greater Importance than they hav
| heretofore had.