The San Francisco call., 1897-04-08
Definite Plan for the Pure
Food Campaign
Adopted.
The Board of Health Addresses
Manufacturers on the
Subject.
Employees Pointedly Warned to Have
Their Unifor rms Really by the
18Th Inst.


offenders against the pure-food laws that,
it is believed, will meet with the ap-
proval of manufacturers and consumers
and result in largely improving the
quality of foods sold in this market.
meeting OF the board was held yester-
day to hear the report of the committee
recently appointed to consider the evil
dence before the Health Department and
formulate plan OF action. DIR. Morse
read and moved the adoption of the fol-
lowing report and resolution:
Your committee ON the subject OF foods and
food adulterations respectfully reports that 1t
has had 1ull conferences with the various
associations in this State concerned in the
matter OF pure food and food adulterations.
All OF the evidence and arguments adduced
at such conferences were taken down Dy
stenographer and transcribed, and your COM
mittee has given 10 the su Diect the careful and
thoughtful attention which its importance de-
mands, Always bearing in mind the para
mount importance OF the hea. tn of the con-
sumner of food while not unmindful of the
Inconvenience and pecunisry loss OF dealers
In food products, some OF whom may be un-
WHITING offenders against the pure-food law.
1t must be borne In mind that while the
prosecution OF those who violate this law has
been undertaken by this bonrd its enforce
ment is not charged as q special duty upon any
person or board, and the other duties of
this board and The time and money at its dis
voted TO those infringements OF the law
which affect the health and lie OF the con-
sumner rather than the honesty OF the dealers.
Your committee believes that whenever and
wherever any violation of the law is discov-
cred By the board 1t should take action, giving
such notice in those infractions OF the law
which do not 1njure the public health as
would seem just, especially where the
breach of the law would be without guilty
knowledge or intent.
Your committee therefore recommends the
passage OF the following resolutions. the tenor
oil which was adopted at the joint meeting of
the representa- OF the Merchants Associa
ton, Manufacturers and Producers Associa-
ton and the Board of Health of San Fran
cisco:
Resolred, That this board proceed firstly
against the dealers in all adulterated articles
OF food which may be in furious or deleterious
TO human lie or health, and secondly against
the dealers in such articles as may De absolute
limitations OF, or sold for another article, and
thirdly against all other offenders against the
pure-food law; provided, that where articles
OF food are not harmful or deleterIous TO hu-
man life or health, and the edulteration of
such article is of such ch aracter, or under
such circumstances, that 1t cannot be discoy-
ered with reasonable diligence and care, due
notice shall be given by the board by publica-
tion in the daily newspapers of this City,
giving the necessary Information on the
subject
1t was decided to instruct the chemist
of the board to make a monthly report of
his Investigations under the following Or
ders:
Said report shall not contain the name of
manufacturer or dealer OF such article as may
be found not a violation OF the so-called "pure
food law" but in such cases only the name of
The article, and the fact that same is pure.
shall be stated.
All adulterated articles in said report shall
be published in the shape of general letter
to manui acturers, dealers and others, and said
letter shall include the names OF the manu-
facturer or dealer, or agent, the article and
the result OF analysis.
The following circular letter to manu-
facturers and dealers was ordered sent
out:
SAN FRANCISCO, April z, 1897.
To Manu- ufdcturerS and Dealers an Food Prod
1tcts This Board of Health intends TO COM
bine ils efforts TO prosecute against adulter-
ated foods OF all kinds. Many of these affect
the health OF our people others the reputation
OF and demand OF our products, thus injuring
many industries OF the State. The last Board
OF Supervisors appropriated sufficient sum
to esta biish d chemical laboratory ana TO pro-
vide for q chemist and one assistant. The
anal yses obtainab bic through this laboratory
are thus necessarily limiteo, hence the work
cannot progress as fast as desirable; but we
wish 10 notify you that while we are at present
investigating the subject of jellies, ETC.,
as rapidly as possible we shall continue the
investigation OF all foods i'll general use, In
cluding all suspected articles OF food, drink
and drugs, and the sooner we have at our dis
posal a more extensive force OF chemists the
quicker will we be able to follow up the work
along the entire line.
We would suggest to dealers and retailers
that whenever they may be doubt regard
ing the purity oil any article OF food they take
from the wholesaler or manufacturer a guar
anty as 10 such purity and an indemnify
agreement should The article be found adut
terated and SO pronounced by compe tent au-
thorities.
We desire to enforce the law with the least
inconvenience and loss to all, but consumers
must be protected.
A mum Der of communications from deal
o. dc nnrfad hty A,
chemist as adulterated. and from attor-
news representing other dealers who had
been arrested, were referred to the COM
mittee on foods and ajulterations.
Stringent rules for the guidance of all
the employees of the Health Department
were adopted. 1t was ordered that all in
spectors tile daily a written report of their
doings during the day, and that this must
contain an entry of the whereabouts OF
the employe at the beginning of each
hour of the day.
For some unexplained reason the chief
food inspector was instructed by the rules
TO change the inspectors In the various
stations at least once a week.
The board brought up with round turn
the EN- ployes OF the department who have
tailed to secure uniforms, as ordered to,
in the following resolution that was
adopted:
WHEREAS, By a previous resolution of the
Board OF Health, adopted at q regular meet
ing, a IL inspectors and employees of the Health
Departmentwered directed by this board TO pro-
cure uniforms: and whereas, a sufficient time
has elapsed since the day of notification of said
employees OF the Health Department 10 procure
the same; therefore, be IL
Resoived, That on and after the 18th day of
April 1897, the positions of all employees and
inspectors who have failed to com ply at the
expiration of the tino mentioned with tho re-
quirements OF the said resolution be declared
vacant without further notice on the part OF
the Board Of Health; and be 1t
Resolved, That the chairman of the com nit
tee on uniforms be and is hereby authorized
TO carry out the provisions OF this order.
An unsigned complaint against the Ma
tional Fertilizing Company of South San
Francisco, which was said to be in such
condition as to be dangerous to the health
OF that locality. was referred to the CON-
mittee on nuisances.
DR.. John Tormey was appointed an as
sistant police surgeon for service at the
Receiving Hospital at salary of $75 per
month.