The record-union., 1897-11-19

Mr.. Berwick said the Republican
party is in power and he wanted 1t to
carry out its pledges.
General Chapman moved that 1t read:
''Whereas the interests of the American
people demand, etc." and, Mr.. johnston
accepting the amendment for the COM
nittee, the resolution was adopted
ANALYSIS OF FOODS.
Professor w. Il .Wenzel of San Fran
cisco addressed the convention on the
adulteration of foods. His essay Will
be found elsewhere.
A discussion of whether the State
law contained penalty was started by
a question by C. A. Willis, and ended
by the reading of the law and the
statement of DR.. Wenzel that several
persons had been convicted and fined
for selling adulterated honey.
INSPECTOR DOCKERY.
Pure Food Inspector Dockery said the
adulteration of food was matter OF
the greatest Importance. Unless it is
put q stop to it means the ruin of the
State.
The best system that he knew of was
that adopted by the San Francisco
Board of Health. The Health Depart
ment very carefully outlined a policy.
1t was gathered from every city in the
Union where there was probability OF
adulterations being made. By the plan
pursued conviction followed every ar
rest, except one. The department was
assisted by the Producers and Manu-
facturers' Association, the Police
Judges and District Attorney. The
movement will be a success only when
the state of California takes lit up. By
the State he meant the people of the
State. They should not go before the
Legislature as a political body or as
representing any one interest, but
through the State Board of Health, rep
Teseuting the whole people. Not only
the fruit growers, but all the people
of the State have been damaged and
honest tradesmen must either quit busi-
ness or adulterate in turn How can
manufacturers of jellies compete with
bullocks' blood and aniline dyes, at 3
cents a pound and called jellies.
The end sought will never be at
tained till we have State Bureau of
Food Inspection. The adulterated food
that has been driven out of San Fran
cisco by the Board of Health has been
sent to Sacramento and other places
in the interior and are being consumed
by the people there.
In answer to a question he stated that
the olive oil proposition was taken up
at the Pure Food Congress, specimens
of food were procured and analyZed
and found to be cotton seed oil. He
considered that it was an unfortunate
occurrence, as it created a great ex-
citement and dealers Immediately
stamped on the bottles of adulterated
oil the words cotton seed OIL" but in
such small letter that it almost needed
a microscope to see them 1t brought
the dealers inside the law, however.
In answer to a question by Senator
Isangford, he stated that he had no
power TO destroy the adulterated food
5that was sent out into the interior Of
the State, his authority being only To-
cal.
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY.
DR.. WenZel said in answer to a Ques-
tion that a chemists business was not
10 determine the effect of an article of
food on the human system, and he could
not do so unless he had a knowledge
of physiology. He can tell the compo-
nent parts of the article and that is
all, unless he has knowledge of their
effects.
Mr.. Cooper stated that he had been
Informed that chemical ANALYSIS
showed the poison of the rattlesnake
and the white of an egg were just the
same and they We're both digested. .
that the diamond and charcoal
We're chemically the same, yet the poi
SON of the rattleSnalxe kills and the
albumen does not. Professor Hilgard
had analyzed a mineral water and
stated that, although it is extensively
used with beneficial effects, no chemist
could tell why the salts contained would
not prove poisonous to a human being
Mr. WenZel said these things were true
but there is a physiological side to the
question which is outside the chem
lists province.
Mr.. Cooper said that he still held his
position that the only way to determine
the question of the effect of cotton seed
oil was to test its effect on human
health.
SENT TO THE UNIVERSITY.
General Chapman said that here was a
man of science, a diSinterested man,
who thinks cotton seed oil is harmless
while the President cites instances to
show that it is not. This is an impor-
tant issue and he thought the State
University should be called on to in
vestigate the subject thoroughly and
report on it. The law should be
amended, as was the oleomargarine
law regarding the printing in letters
easily read the true name of the bot
tied OIL
He presented a resolution reciting
the statements in Mr.. Cooper's ad-
dress and resolving that the Univer
s6ty of California be requested to make
a thorough investigation of the effects
of, cotton seed oil. The resolution was
adopted.
MIR. Cooper said that an imitation
olive oil Act covering the ground of
labelling was passed four years ago and
he read the law
Mr.. Dockery said that there was
much oil offered for sale in San Fran
cisco labeled salad or only.
HORTICULTURAL QUARANTINE.
An essay by Quarantine Inspector
Alexander Craw was read, entitled
horticultural Quarantine" as follows:
When the rules and regulations of the
State Board of Horticulture of Cali
fornia Were adopted and put into force
they created considerable friction and
Ill feeling among Eastern nurSerymen
and tree and plant importers, who in
ferred that they were aimed directly
at their business, and retaiiatory meas
Ires We're threatened. Time however
has convinced them that California
was justified in such a. course and in
stead Of retaliating, they are now urg-
ing similar regulations for their own
States.