The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-12
FOOD ADULTERATION.
Testimony OF Chemists Before the Sen.
ate Pure FOOD Committee.

Chicago, May 9.-Freezine, Preserva-
tine, Freeze En-, Rosalin and Laktone
are things few people know Of, but that
they take these adulterants into their
stomachs was stated by Professor A S.
Mitchell analytical chemist Of the Wis
consin Dairy and Food commission to
the senatorial committee on pure food
investigation today. Professor Mitchell
gave the committee some important in
formation. AS a result Senatorf Mason
had several manufacturers subpoenaed
and they will be called on tomorrow.
probably to tell the committee some
thing about these compounds.
The use of antiseptic as prcserva-
tives," said Professor Mitchell, has
become alarmingly great. They are
velopment of germs in dairy products;
also in chopped meat, bulk oysters, fish,
hams and possibly corned beef"
The chemist first told of his test of
a liquid known as "f-eezine.' Profess
sor Mitchell said that the stuff had
been used extensively by farmers to
keep milk and butter. it being THE GUS
tom to mix with the former in small
and pour quarts Of it into
- 8 for the preservation of butter.
This Freezine I have found to be
nothing less than almost pure formic
aldehyde," narrated the expert. This
is chemical that acts disastrously on
the tissues of the stomach and I can
only surmSe the results when milk di-
1uted with it is used constantly by a
family. Where butter is placed in vaIs
filled with this stuff the commodity
takes up no small amount Of the liquid
with a result that can only be conject-
ured."
The professor proceeded to tell of
his experiments with a fluid sold ex-
tensively to butchers for the purpose of
making their Hamburger steaks last
and keep up a healthy appearance.
This liquid contains in great percen-
tage what is known as sulphide of soda
with a complement of coloring matter"
he continued. 1T is styled an antisep
tic and in certain respects it is. This
must be borne in mind, however, that
where fermentation and waste are ar
rested the digestive properties are
consequently destroyed
DR.. Wiley, the government expert
who examined the antiseptic without
going on the stand, said he identified
it as practically the same chemical
which was used during his experience
at medical college to preserve cada-
vers and was now occasionally put to
service in disinfecting houses where
smallpox patients resided.
The testimony assumed the form Of
a debate as to whether or not the use
Of alum in the manufacture of baking
powder is injurious to the public
health.
George w. Rev, a chemist, stated
the injurious characteristics of alum
are destroyed in the process Of baking.
Professor c. n. S. Hallberg, former
editor of The Western Druggist and
Professor Mitchell combatted this the
ory and expressed the opinion that
alum should not be used as an ingredi-
ent unless the public was aware of the
fact by labels on the cans.
The common bases for the majority
of jellies manufactured nowadays, ac-
cording to several witnesses, are the
cores and parings Of apples, utilized
after they had been evaporated. This
substance, it was claimed, is mixed
with glucose in large quantities with
sugar in small quantities and tnen col
ored and favored to suit the outside
design on the package.