The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-30

the Assistant Adjutant General, Head
quarters of the Army, Washington Sir:
1 have the honor to report in the in
terests of the service that in the several
inspections made in the various camps
and troop ships at Tampa, Jacksonville,
Chickamauga and Porto Rico, that I
found the fresh beef to be apparently
preserved with secret chemicals, which
destroys its natural flavor, and which
I also believe to be detrimental to the
health of the troops.
While on duty at the headquarters of
the tS'my at Tampa, at the time of the
Smarter expedition" Colonel Weston,
the efficient chief commissary, showed
me quarter of the 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 de-
tect. It is impossible to keep fresh beef
so long unta1nted in the sun in that
climate without the use of q. deleterious.
preserver, such as boric acid, or nitrate
of potash injected into it in quantities
likely to be hurtful to the health of the
consumer. At Ponce, much of the beef
arriving on the transports from the
United States was also of the same
character, being apparently preserved
by injected chemicals to aid deficient
cold storage.
Where efficient cold storage is impOs-
Sible, transporting beef alive is the
method that should receive the fullest
consideration by the government as be-
ing saIest for the health of the con-
sumer.
transport Panama, for conveying con-
valescents to the United States, I OBJ
tained 1000 pounds Of fresh beef from
the COmmisSary at Ponce. It looked
well, but had an odOr similar to that Of
a dead human body after being inject
ed with preservatiVes, and tasted when
first cooked, like decomposed bodies.
After standing a day for further in
spection it became so bitter, nauseous
and unpalatable as to be quite impos-
sible for use. was. therefore obliged,
owing to the condition and the COM
plants of the sick about it, and the
disguStingly Sicl6ening Odor it emitted
when being cooked and maWkiSh fiat
taste when served and the safety of the
patients, 255 convalescent soldiers on
board, to organize a board of survey,
condemn and throw 800 pounds, all we
had, overheard, consequently the con-
vaIescents were entirely without much
needed fresh beef, making the duty of
bringing the men to the United States
in an improved condition a very diff
cult matter.
In my inspection of the Fourth Uni
ted States volunteer infantry at jack
sonvilIe, recently, I observed the same
Odor and taste upon the fresh beef, but
not so marked; and at camp of Sixth
United States volunteer infantry at
Chickamauga, I also at several inSpec-
tiOns observed it markedly. 1 there in
spected a lot of beef just issued to that
regiment and while it looked we'll, was
of a sickening OdOr, like human body
dead of disease and injected with pre-
servatives and when cooked was quite
unpaIatable. consequently likely to
prove an efficient cause of i'll health.
The men complained of its insipid and
mawkish flavor that high seasoning
could not conceal.
Believing the commissary department
has been imposed upon by the mtsdi-
rected commercial spirit of persons fur
nishing fresh beef, respectfully rec
ommend that the matter be investiga-
ted by experts, making a quantitative
and qualitative chemical analysis OF
the several preservatives suspected to
be used by getting samples of beef fur
nished for export to Cuba and Porto
Rico.
If the question arises that a report
should have been made by me earlier
I beg to say that I have endeavored
with all my opportunities to first in
form myself by observation of the con-
ditions above noted, sufficiently to war
rant my drawing the attention of the
adjutant general at headquarters Of the
ar--y, to the matter. Very respectfully,
w. H. DAILY,
Major and Chief Surgeon,