Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-21
EAGaN OFF DUTY.
Continued from page ~


by a butcher down in the hold. He
thrust his arm in every direction into
the putrid meat trying to find solid
piece. This meat had the same pecu-
uiar odor"
He added that the Panama's beet
warranted his report that its odor WAS
like that of a dead human body M
jected with preservatives. On the Pan
anna. coming over from Ponce. he had
made some tea. or soup from the re-
frigerated beef, the same that had been
condemned. had filtered it and sealed
ii Theoretically in a can and when h
reached his home at Pittsburg had an
alyzed it. From this he got light
ish brown resduum. This, he said,
disclosed the characteristics of boraX
and salicylic acid.
DR.. DAILY urged that he be permitted
to demonstrate the test. DR.. Common
objected, insisting that he leave the
powder the witness brought as the
residuum of this beef with the commit
sion to be examined by a government
chemist Witness pleaded not to have
the matter taken out of his hands but
a compromise was effected by deciding
that Dr. Daily be present with the Off
cial chemist and it was arranged to
have Prof. Clark of the geological SUR
vey, here examine the powder, this at
1ernoon. This arrangement was net
carried out.
At the afternoon session DR.. DAILY
underwent rather severe cross-eXami-
nation, especially on the subject of the
date on which he had reported as to
his suspicious in regard to the beef and
why he had not sooner reported Or.
Daley said he had never discussed with
any officer the subject of bad beef. IN
stead of commenting on such matters
he had rather attempted TO allay the
discomfort with the meat. While at
Chckamauga he had found meat which
appeared to have been treated as indi
Gated in his report.
If the government was supplied with
chemically prepared beef, he was ask
ed. did he not think the government
had been fraudulently dealt with. DR..
Daley replied that in his judgment
when such beef had been supplied by
contractors. it had not been with
fraudulent intent. The persons sup
plying the beef probably considered
the preparation used no more harmful
than salt. He had not arrived at the
conclusions he did until after tests.
Instead of weakening his position each
test had made him less willing to re-
cant any statements he had made.
Dr. DAILY was questioned closely in re-
gard to examination of an extract of beef
which he said he had made and which he
said resulted in Il disclosure of the char
acteristics of borax and salicylic acid.
He stated that the kettle in which the
extract was taken was perfectly clean
and the fluid was transferred to a clean
glass bottle. The beef used in making
the extract was of the refrigerated
variety.
AT Jacksonville he had inspected meat
which, while of good appearance. had IAN
unmistakable odor. The cooks there
said that much seasoning was required 10
overcome the unpalatableness of the
cooked meat.
The weather in Cuba and Porto Rico
was always warm. said DR.. Daily, in an
Swer to another line of interrogatory.
This, however, did not mean that similar
means would be necessary to preserve
beef in those places at ali seasons of the
year. Beef decomposed much more rap
idly during the rainy season than when
the weather was merely warm.
The beard referred to in this inVeSti-
cation, he said. could only grow upon
meat containing putrescent germs. Many
persons preferred to eat game slightly
dccomposed or high but such persons
almost invariably afterward drank WINE
or other spirits. Such spirits, the doctor
said, would kill any germs contained III
the meat. 1t was another question, how
ever, when it came to feeding soldiers on
meat in such a condition.
DR.. DAILY explained the process OF
chemically treating beef. The boraclc
acid or salicylic acid, he said was
sprnkled upon the meat in the shape of
was brushed off. The meat WAS then
hung in a room where it was kept cold
by means of ammonia or salts. This was
one means of preserving meat. but there
were other methods. The substance
placed upon the surface of the meat pene-
tratcd its inner ISSUES and there chemical
changes took place.
DR.. DAILY also explained the methods of
embalming human bodies. Many persons
had methods which they claimed TO be
superior to all others, but the common
method WAS to use boracic acid, salicylic
acid or glyccrine. In making examine
TONS of beef he was possessed of know
ledge which led him to look for TWO par
ticular substances.
In regard to his report on the question
of the meat furnished the army. ne was
asked whether it had been forwarded
from army headquarters to any person
Interested. He replied that in his opinion
the major general of the army was the
person most likely to be interested;
DR.. DAILY was at Tampa about the 3oth
of May. His suspicious in regard to the
beef, he sad, were aroused about the 1ath
of June He reported this fact in August.
that the beef contained poison or de
stroyed vitality of the soldiers lie had
said that it was detrimental to health.
DIR. DENLY asked DIR. DAILY whether in
his opinion an officer had performed his
duty when. knowing that the beet sup
piled The army was detrimental to health.
he had concealed that fact and had not
reported it for many weeks. DR.. DAILY re-
piled that he had reported upon the facts
IN a regular way and after mature de-
liberation. He could not, he said grow
about ii to any one and every one ne
met"
Mr.. Denly still followed up this line of
interrogatory and asked whether ne
would have treated a patient as he had
treated the soldiers of The army. 4o1
are on trial now. doctor, continued MI
DENLY, ION trial before the country. 70
this the witness protested vigorously that
he was not upon trial and the coun,f!
would never put him on trial:
DIR. Conner quese i0ned the Witness IN re-
gard to the decompoSed boracic acid IRE
Quently referred to. This brought out the
fact that DR.. DAILY used the term IN IT'S
chemical sense, but he sad. as a matter
of fact the acid was readily compounded
with some other element in the meat and
its nature changed in this way.
During the course the afternoon, Dr.
DAILY stated that it was a mistake to be-
Heve that freshly killed meat was detri-
mental to health Meat from animal
just slaughted was in no way injurious.
he said.
Tomorrow morning, DIR. DAILY will meet
DIR. Conner of the commission and DIR