The herald., 1897-10-10
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10. 1897.
AGAINST PUBLIC HEALTH

The Sanitarian has a timely word
about the danger of using salicylc acid
in household economy. This drug is g
mentation, the souring or the putrefac-
ton OF milk and arrests the conversion
Of starch into grape-sugar by disease
and pancreatic extracts But" says
ly opposed to the process Of digestior.
and were there no other reason the use
OF salicylic acid should be universally
con damned" Frar.ce, Austria, Italy,
Spain and all South American. states
having pure food laws have absolutely
forbidden its sale. Many of the states
Of the Union have also prohibited its use.
Mr.. Wells, dairy and pure food comrnis-
sioner of Pennsylvania, recently pub
llshed an official decision in which he
calls the atten tion of housekeepers to an
important fact in connection with the
use OF salicylic acid, viz, the sale of
preservalines, preservatives, ETC., under
various high-sounding names Ctendec,
for use in private families. He says:
A number of these, claimed to be per-
fectly harmless. are on the market, but
actually contain salcyiic acid as the
main ingredient. The conscientious and
careful housekeeper should put an abb
solute veto upon the use of any such
compound. There is rarely any need
for them, since where fruits and vege-
tables are used. and the proper direc-
tions for sterilizing by heat. etc., are
carried out, canned or preserved goods
of all descriptions can be prepared that
will remain in good condition for years
without the aid of any preservative.
The tend ency of the trade to adulteraie
all articles of commerce susceptible
thereto is a common and growing evil.
It is difficult IL not impossible to meas
ure the extent Of this evil for the rea-
son that it strikes and wounds, as 1t
were, in, the dark, it's malign effects not
being directly tracea BILE to the use OF
the food or drug thus tampered with
For the same reason the chances of dis
covery and punishment of the rascally
adulterapt are minimized, thus offering
q strong temp ptation for the perpetuatior,
OF the offense
In recent years the legislatures of va
rious states have done much in placing
under the ban of the penal code this
cowardly mode Of making money at the.
expense OF the health of the people.
But unless the people take an interest
in the enforcement of this legisla ton,
II will remain as a dead letter on the
statute book of the state. Section 3S2
Of the Penal Code of California provides
that:
Every person who adulterates or d.
lutes any article of food, drink, drug,
medicine, spirituous or malt liquor or
wine or any article useful in compound
ing them, with fraudulent intent
and every person who fraudulent
ly sells or keeps or offers for sale the
same, is guilty of msdemeanor pun
ishable by fine or Imprisonment in the
county jail, or by both fine and i'm
prisonment
We have in this state in addition laws
to prevent fraud in the manufacture
and sale of butter, cheese, candy, honey,
syrup and other articles of consumption.
In this behalf the legislature Of Ca,ifor-
MIA has fairly responded to the demands
OF public sentiment
Some ethir,g else remains to be done be-
fore the beneficial results of this legisla-
tion materialzes. The people imposed
upon or attempted to be imposed upon.
by dishonest vepdors of food or drink
product must bring the matter to the
attention Of the judicial officer-the dis
trict attorney. Our people have habit
Of loudly demanding and insisting upon