The evening times., 1899-01-21
SATURDAY, JANUARY 81 1899.
DIR. DaIy's Report.

In his testimony before the Alger Relief
Commission, as reported this morning, DIR.
DAILY. former chief surgeon, made the
important statement that be was led to
his first investigations of meat served TO
the army by the character of some beef
that WAS said 10 have been chemically
treated. He took a piece Of this, which
he was not told was simply on exhibition
at the instance of the inventor, cooked
and ate it. He suffered the pains and
nausea that he had experienced from eat
ing meat in the Rocky Mountains that
had been treated with chemicals. Later
he found acids in it. On his rounds as
an organizer and inspector of hospitals
he saw meat which looked like this chemi-
cally treated article, and he was called
upon 10 treat men who had eaten of ii
and suffered as he did. In Porto Rico,
on the City of Chester, he saw butcher
removing putrid portions OF beef, and
serving the small remainder to the troops
Subsequently he made tests of refrigerated
beef procured from the commissary depot
by Captain Irvine, and found it contained
the same acids.
One fact OF Importance in this is that
he discovered, himself, and without in
structions from anybody, that there was
bad meat served 10 the army; that he
did not start out under orders to look for
it. 1t was he who called the attention OF
General Miles 10 his discovery. Whether
The latter had already known of the ex-
istence of putrid beef is not stated. Either
before or after the report of DR.. Daily,
acting alone and in the regular course oi
his duties, the soldiers in Porto Rico re-
fused TO eat the beef ration that was pro-
Vided by the Commissary department, and
their regimental commanders, and il
some cases their company officers, made
an examination and reported the reEu tC
General Miles.
Ii has been suggested that Or. Daily had
been detailed, in advance Of any discovery
OF his cwn, TO go cut and find bad meat
if he could, to support the charges General
Miles intended 10 make. II was the evil
dent intention CT the .tIger Commission 10
extract from Or. DAILY an admission that
his was the fact. but his testimony ef-
fectually dispCses cf that There could be
no conceivable reason for the surgeon 10
misrepresent the truth about it. He is a
man Of experience not only as a medical
man, but also as an army officer He had
served the Union in the Civil War as q
regimental surgeon. He could not fail to
know the Importance Of his revelation. He
could surely fcresee that his report. which
was wholly voluntary and unsolicited. was
a reflection on the efficiency of the Com
missary Department and that it would be
subjected 10 an Investigation He had
nothing to gain by involving himself in
the-leyitable controversy except the salts
facticn CT having performed his duty. 1t
l. not 10 be supposed that he would make
Sucf-e charge without being very sure of
his facts and without a strong feeling that
il was necessary in order 10 save the SOL
diers from The dangerous effects of eating
the meat, which he knew from personal
experience.
The careful statement of DR.. DAILY is in
harmony with that of the regimental com.
manders n Porto Rico, who. also. could
have no motive 10 perjure themselves
Together, all these exact reports gave am.
pie warrant to General Miles to make the
assertions be did before the Alger ReIiet
Commission and which would have called
out 20 detailed proofs but for the actor
OF the Commissary General. The report:
Of these officers were made public only af.
Ter General Miles had been assailed il
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