The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-12-31
MORE ABOUT EMBALMED MEAT
WAS PRESERVED WITH CHENII-
GALS, SAYS SURGEON DAILY.

and the san Failed to PerceptibIy
faint It-Had to Throw "a Lot of II
observation-disclosures UnpaIatabIe and
InheaIthy-DaIy Says the Commits
sary Department Was Imposed
Upon.
washington, Dec. SO.-The war invesu-
eating commission held brief executive
session to-day, and at noon adjourned I'M
I'll Tuesday, Jan 5.
There was no important action at to-
DAVIS meeting and the matter of recalling
Commissary General Egan, Maj. Gen.
shafter and Maj. Gen. Miles as a result
of the agitation over the beef issued to
the army in the war, remains undetermin-
ed A decision viii probably be reached
next Tuesday when it is likely there win
be a full attendance of the commission alb
sence over the holidays Of majority of
the members resulting in making the past
weeks proceedings of an unimportant and
routine character.
The commission to-day made public
report, omitted in the statement given out
yesterday, bearing on the beef controversy.
1t is from Maj. W. H. Daily, chief surgeon
at army headquarters at Tampa, prior to
the sailing of the Shafter expedition. and
is as follows:
Washington, D. c., Sept 81 1S9S-To
the Assistant Adjutant General Head
quarters of the Army, Washington, D. c.
Sir: l have the honor TO report in the
interests of the service that in the several
Inspections I made in the various camps
and troopships at Tampa jacksonville
Chirkamausa and Porto Rico, 1 found the
fresh beef to be apparently preserved with
secret chemicals, which destroys its natu-
raj flavor, and which I also believe to be
detrimental to the health OF the troops.
The sun DID Not faint 1t.
"While on duty at the headquarters of
the army at Tampa at the time of the en-
barkation of the Shafter expedition. Col
Weston, the efficient chief commissarv
showed me quarter of beef, that had al
ready as a test been sixty-hours in the
sun without being perceptibly tainted SO
far as the sense of smell could detect. Il
is impossible 10 keep fresh beef so long
untainted, in the sun in that climate. with
out the use of deleterious personalities.
such as boric acid, salicylc acid or nitrate
of potash injected into it in quantities like
ly to be hurtful to the health Of the con
sumer. Al Ponce, Porto Rico, much of the
beef 1 examined arriving on the trans
ports from the United States, was also of
the same character, being apparently pre-
served by injected chemicals 20 aid def
Il Gent cold storage.
When efficient cold storage is impossi-
BILE transporting beef alive is the method
that should receive the fullest consider
anon by the government, as being safest
Tor the health of the consumer. When de-
tailed 10 take charge of the transport
Panama for conveying convaiescents 10
the Cnited States, l obtained 1900 pounds
of fresh beef from the commissary at
1 Ponce IL looked well, bur had an odor
similar to that of a dead human body at
4 ter being injected with preserva lives and
tasted when first cooked like decomposed
boric acid, while after standing a day for
further inspection 1t becomes so bitter
naUseous and unpalatable as TO be quite
impossible for use.
Had to Throw IL Overheard.
81 was therefore obliged, owing to its
4 condition, and the just complaints of the
1 sick about il, and the disgusCingly sicken-
i ing odOr it emitted when being cooked, and
It's mawkish fiat taste when served, and
i Tor the safety of patients, 255 cOnvalescents
i soldiers on board, TO organize a board Of
survey, condemns and throw l. 800 pounds,
all we had, overheard Consequently the
Il convalescents were entirely without much
/ reeded fresh beef, making the duty of
4 bringing Tie men 20 the United States in
i an improved condition, a very difficult mat
ter
In my inspection of the Fourth United
States "olunteer Infantry at Jacksonville
recently l observed the same odor and
/ taste lIpon the fresh beef, but not so
/ marked; and at the camp of the Sixth
United States Volunteer Infantry al
/ Chickamauga l also at several inspec
i tons, observed it markedly. [ there in
speeted a lot OF beef just issued TO that
regiment and while it looked well it was
j of a sickening odor like a human body
dead of disease and injected with preserV-
i, atlyes, ana when cooked il was quite I'M
paatable; consequently it was likely to
prove an efficient cause of i'll health. The
men complained of Its insipid and nav
kish flavor that high seasoning could not
conceal
recommends an Investigat iOn.
Believing that the commissary depart
ment had been imposed upon by the mis-
directed commercial spirit of persons fur
nishing fresh beef, l respectfully recon-
mend that the matter be investigated by
4 experts, making quantitve and qualita-
tive chemical analysis of the several pre-
seryatives suspected TO be used, by getting
samples of the beef furnished for export
TO cuba and Porto Rico.
III the question arises that report
should have been made by me earlier,
beg to say that I have endeavored with
all my opportunities 10 first inform myself
by observation of the conditions above
noted sufficiently to warrant my drawing
the attention of the adjutant general at
headquarters of the army to the matter.
Very respectfully, w. II. Daily,
Major and Chief Surgeon, U. S. ""