The times., 1898-12-31
THE BEEF WAS EMBALMED.
Startling Revelations From Chief
Surgeon DAILY.

HeveiataOnS from SnicI
Surgeon Daily.
The report on army beef made by Chief
Surgeon Daily. which was read by General
Miles in his revelations to the Alger Relief
Commission. was the only thing that de-
veloped in the way OF news in the daily
session of that august body yesterday.
Four members of the commission sat for
an hour or so in executive session. and.
aside from telling "reminiscences OF their
junketing tours. transacted small
amount of routine business and then took
recess until Tuesday. anent the making
CT New Years resolutions to nip in the
bud all future damaging testimony about
army beef and the like.
The report which General Miles read TO
the commission. and which had been held
back sy it until yesterday. was u.afe BY
Surgeon Daily on September q. to the ad
jutant generals department, and is rev.
elation of facts so startling and revolving.
though stated simply IL the language of
dry report. II is understood on good
authority that, IT, General Egan takes the
stand TO refute the testimony OF General
Miles, he will Immediately thereafter be
confronted with a much larger accumula-
ton OF evidence to overcome as the stand
taken by the commanding general has raj
lied around him an ever increasing host of
officers who are anxious to follow his ex-
ample in telling few unyarnished facts
that came under their personal observa-
tion during the war.
In view of the excited condition of many
army officers OF high rank, it is not at all
unlikely that Secretary Alger will be
called on to tell the commission from. his
personal experience in visiting army
camps after the war was over that every
thing was all right and that the meat
was not bad
General Corbin has at last been furnish
ed copy of the testimony he gave before
the commission. He was also extended an
opportunity TO appear on the stand again.
should he have any additional statements
to make. General Miles having declared
in his testimony, referring to certain
things General Corbin had testified 10.
that the distinguished witness was mis-
taken" it is thought likely that General
Corbin may avail himself of the opportu-
nifty to reply.
The report of Surgeon Daily to the as
sistant adjutant general. which was given
out yesterday, is as follows:
have the honor to report. in the interests Of
the service, that in the se.eral inspections made
IN the various camps and troopships Tampa.
found the fresh beef 10 be apparently preserved
with chemicals. which destroys its natural
Favor. and which also believe to be detrimental
| TO the health OF the troops.
While on duty at the headquarters Of the ar
| my at Tampa. at the time of the embarkation OF
the ''Shafter expedition" Col. Weston the eff
! cient chief commissary, showed me 4 quarter Of
/ beef that had already test been sixty hours
in the SUM- and without being perceptibly tsint-f
| ed 50 Tar as the Of smell could detect
1t IS impossible to keep fresh beef 50 long un-
sim in hat eli yx-ir1t
| use OF dcleterious preservatiyes. such as bOrie
acid salicylic acid, nitrate of potash injected
into it in quantities likely TO be hurtful to the
health OF the consumer. At Ponce, Porto Rico.
| much OF the beef | examined arriving on tin,
transports from the United States also OF the
same character, being apparently preserved bv
injected chemicals TO aid deficient cold storage.
| Where efficient cold storage is impossible trans
porting beef alive is the method that should te-
4 ceive the fullest consideration by the C'ov5Ei,-
ment, as being safest for the health Of the con
sluer. When detailed TO take charge of HE
1 transport Panama. for conveying cOnvalescentS
| TO the United States obtained 1900 poundssof
| fresh beef from the cOmmissary at PonCa II look
/ ed well, but had odOr similar 10 that or a
dead human body after being injected with pre-
servatiyes, and tasted when first cooked like de-
composed borlc aclds while after standing a dsy
for further inspection. il became bitter. nsis-
| eeous and unpalatable as 10 be quite impossible
\ for Use.
| | was therefore obliged, owing to lis eondi-
tiou, and the Just complaints of the sick about IT,
| and the diss1istingiy sickening odor il emitted
when being cooked, and its mawkish. fiat taste
\ when served. and she safety of the patients two
| hundred and hfty-iiye cOnvalescent soldiers on
| board, to organize board Of surrey condemn
and throw Loo pounds. all We had. overheard.
consequently the ccuvaescents were entirely with
| out rnuci-needcd fresh beef. making the duty oi
! bringing the the United States in an i'm
proved condition very difficult matter.
| In my inspection OF The Fourth L. :. Volunteer
Infantry at jacksonville, recently. observed tha
slime cdor and upon the fresh beef but not
| so marked; and at camp OF sixth L. 5. Volunteer
| infantry, at Chickamaugl. | also at several IN
| spections observed 1t markedly. | there inspecfed
| a lot or beef Just issued to that regiment and
| While II looked well. OF a Sckening oder.
| ike human body dead Of disease and injected
| wiki prcscTvdtiveS. ard when cooked WIS uyrit-
cient cause OF i'll health. The men complained Of
It's iEsipid and mawkish favor, that high season
ing could not conceal.
Believing that the commissary department has
! been imposed upon by tie Tuisiirectcd coHIIEcr-
cial spirit ot persons furnishing fresh beef re-
Spectfully recommend that the matter be inye--
| tigated hy experts. making a cumulative and
qualitative chemical analysis OF the several pre-
| seryativcs suspected to be used by getting sanl-
pies Of beef furnished for export TO Cuba and Pcl-
! TO Rico
! been made by me earlier. beg, TO say thai h1{,
| endeayoTed with all my opportunities to first in
| form myself by observation OF the conditions
| above noted sufficiently to warrant nv drawing
| the attention Of the -Adiutant General at head
| quarters OF the a'iny to the matter.
The report is signed by W. II. DAILY.
major and chief surgeon. United States
Volunteers.