Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-31
CHEMICALS IN FRESH BEEF.
Acid Preservatiyes Said to He Con-
taineL in Army Ment Sunnliea.

t0tneu In Army Meat supplies.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 30.-The War Inves-
tgating commission held brief executive
session today and at noon adjourned until
Tuesday. There was no important action at
today's meeting, and the matter Of recalling
Commissary General Eagan, Major General
Shafter, or Major General Miles, as a result
OF the agitation over the beef issues to the
army in the war, remains undetermined. A
decision probably will be reached next Tues
day, when 1t is likely there will be a full
attendance Of the commission, absence over
the holidays Of a majority OF the members
resulting In making the last weeks proceed
ings OF an unimportant character. The
commission today made public report,
omitted in the statement given out yesterday,
bearing on the beef controversy. 1t is from
Major 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. To the
Ad1utant General. Headquarters Of the
Army. WashingtoC-Sir: l have the honor
to report in the interests of the service
that In the several inspections l made in the
various camps and troOpships at Tampa
Jacksonville. Chickamauga and Porto Rico,
that found the fresh beef to be apparently
preserved with secret chemicals. which de-
stroys its natural flavor and which l also
believe to be detrimental to the health OF
the troops.
While cu duty at the headquarters Of the
army at Tampa at the time of the embarka-
tion Of the Shafter expedition Colonel Wes-
ton. the efficient chief commissary, showed
me quarter Of beef that had already as q
test been sixty hours In the sun without be-
ing perceptibly tainted, so far as the sense
Of smell could detect. 1t is impossible to
keep fresh beef so long untainted in the suu
In that climate without the use Of deleterious
preservatives. such as boriac acid or nitrate
Of potash injected into 1t In quantities liable
to be hurtful to the health of the consumer.
At Pouca much Of the beef arriving on the
transport from the United States was also
of the same character. being apparently pre-
served by injected chemicals to aid deficient
cold storage.
Where efficient cold storage Is impossible
transporting beef alive Is the method that
should receive the fullest consideration by
the government as being safest for the health
OF the consumer. When detailed to take
charge of the transport Panama for convey
ing convalescents to the United States OBJ
tained 1000 pounds Of fresh beef from the
commissary at Ponce. 1t looked we'll. but
had an odor similar to that of dead human
body after being injected with preservatives,
and after standing a day for further inspec-
tioo 1t became go bitter. nauseous and un-
palatable as to be quite impossible for use.
! was. therefore. Obliged. owing to the con-
dition and the complaints OF. the sick about
1t, and the disgusting sickening odor 1t
emitted when being cooked and mawkish,
fiat taste when served. and the safety Of the
patients-255 convalescent soldiers on board
to organize q board Of survey, condemn
and throw 1900 pounds, all we had. over
board consequently the coOvalescents were
entirely without much needed fresh beef,
making the duty Of bringing the men to the
United States In an improved condition q
very difficult matter.
In my inspection of the Fourth United
States volunteer infantry at jacksonville re-
Gently. I observed the same odor and taste
upon the fresh beef, but not 30 marked; and
infantry at Chickamauga, ! also at several
inspections observed 1t markedly. l there
inspected lot Of beef Just Issued to that
regiment, and while 1t looked we'll was OF
a sickenipg odor, and when cooked was quite
unpalatable, consequently likely to prove an
efficient cause of i'll health. The men COM
planned Of its tnsipid and mawkish flavor
that high seasoning could not conceal.
Believing that the cOmmissary department
has been imposed upon by the mis-directed
commercial spirit Of persons furnishing fresh
beef respectfully recommend that the mat
ter be Investigated by experts, making a
quantitative and qualitive chemical analysis
of the several preservatives suspected TO be
used by getting samples Of beef furnished
for export to Cuba and Porto Rico.
II the question arises that report should
have been made by me earlier, / beg to say
that have endeavored with all my oppor-
tunities to first inform myself by observa-
tion Of the conditions above noted sufficiently
to warrant my drawing the attention OF the
adjutant general at headquarters OF the
army. Very respectfully.
Major and Chief Surgeon United States VOL