The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-05
INVESTIGATION OF THE WAR
MAJOR HARRISON GIVES TEsTI-
MONY CONCERNING BEEF.
Says Refrigerated and Canned Meats
Were Wholesome, While Hoof
Killed Beef Made Men Sick.

Washington. January 4.-tMajor Hopkins,
military aide to the secretary of war, tcs-
titled before the war investigation COM
mission regarding sanitary conditions az
Tampa Camp Thomas and Camp Alger. Ii
was the old question of sinks, drainage and
camp police and the testimony OF the wit
ness was little different from preceding
witnesses.
Major Harrison, Ninth Volunteer infan-
try, whose regiment was raised near New
orlea rs and is now in service at Santiago,
was next called.
Concerning commissary stores he said
those in the United States were the best
that could be bought in the open market.
The refrigerated beef of this country, he
said, was excellent. He had Gdd much
experience with refrigerated meat and he
said that while there was some DISPOSE lon
on the part OF the reglmental cooks 20 cag.l
at the appearance of the meat, Il was in
reality quite good. He explained that tue
sudden change OF temperature on removing
the meat from the refrigerator ships pro-
duced what is known as beard Il gtesl-
ism growth that had 10 be scrapel on.
When this was doae the meat beneath MS
perfectly good. IL was served TO the nen
with excellent results and benefited tbs
sick materially. The chef tlorbe came
when the change was mide TO hoot cattle
sent from Porto Rico. Tnis beef Major
Harrison killed himself ami personally SUI
perintendod its dressing and cooling
But IL would mot cool - thst china e,
he ssLd emphatlciily. n he meat never
lcet It's animal heat and with Us use oar
sickness increased 10 per ceai. In d coua-
try where our dead purified in sx houre
you will easily uriiersisAi ,nst msai killed
and exposed to the srmospheres oasnges
with coagulated blood and the attacks Of
flies will spoil much sooner. Our toard
OF survey had NO work TO do except con-
demning and burying This local killtd
beaf."
OF the canned meat Major Harrison
spoke with equal emphasis, saying that II
was fully as good as the refrigerated beef.
was we'll received by the men and none OF
IL had TO be condemned.
Governor Beaver asked II a refrigsraiing
plant we're established there whether Gu
ban beef could be- killed on the ground and
rendered n for use by the mon.
Witness said he thought this would 10.
be desirable as 'lne Cuban cattle. whi'e
fine looking, furnished The coarsest and
most sirngy beef ne had ever sesn,
Winners said he was ttor7ushly familiar
with the processes OF refisgera.iny and
bulcherng meat. and he was willing n
state positively that there were no chem
icals used In any OF the American beef
that had como unser his observation. on
the eontrsry. he said that there was 20
chemical preparation that could be used
on the meat With advantage to tho packers
and without running their produrt before
they could get II 10 the army ie regardad
II as highly Improbable That anything q!
the sort had been attempted.
Recurring 10 the hopf klllcl beef a.
Santiago witness said the surgeons in
charge attributed the 10 per cent Increase
In intestinal sickness 10 the use o. the
fresh killed beef. There w5s a proper
f.onste decrease IN sickness when he
REGIMENT returned to the refrigersted meat.
General Harrison said no had no COM
plant to make as to medical supplies OF
attendance, Hs considered the wholG
, supply systcm good.