The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-05
SAYS SUPPLIES
WERE ALL GOOD
Major Harrison Before
the investigators.
EXCELLENT BEEF FURNISHED
EXCELLENT BEEF FURNISHED
ONLY TROUBLE WAS WITH THE
LOCAL KILLED CATTLE.
AS an Expert Butcher the Witness
Declares That Chemicals Were
Not Used to Preserve
Meat for Soldiers.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-MajOr Hop
kins, military aid to the Secretary OF
War, testified before the War InVesu-
eating Commission regarding sanitary
conditions at the camps at Tampa,
Camp Alger and Camp Thomas 1t was
the old question of sinks, drainage and
camp police, and the testimony of the
witness was little different from pTeced-
ing witnesses. He had not approved
of the conditions at Camp Thomas ana
in accordance with his report an order
was issued on August 10 for its aban-
donment. He knew of no adverse re-
port ever having been made to the Sec
rotary of War on Camp Alger. If there
were any complaints they were merely
individual. He knew of no complaint
as to any camp that was not promptly
investigated.
What action was taken, if any,"
well, for one instance, 1 was APP
pointed with DR.. Reed to investigate
the condition of the hospitals. The
surgeon general told US to report daily
and he would act at once on our recon-
mendatiOnS.
Major Harrison, Ninth Volunteer In
fantry, whose regiment was raised
near Ney- Orleans and is now in service
at Santiago, was next called. Concern
ing cOmmissary stores he said those in
the United States were the best that
could be bought in the open markel.
The refrigerated beef sent from this
country he aid was excellent. He had
had much experience with refrigerated
meat and he said that While there was
some disposition on the part of the regi-
mental cooks to cavil at the appear
ance of the meat, it was in reality quite
good. He explained that the sudden
change Of temperature on removing the
meat from the refrigerator ships pro-
duced what is known as a beard" a
greenish growth that has to be scraped
off. When this was done the meat be-
meath was perfectly good. 1t was is
sued to the men with excellent results
and benefited the sick materially. The
chief trouble came when the change
was made to hoof cattle. This beef
Major Harrison killed himself and per-
sonally superintendent its dressing and
cooling.
But it would not cool in that eli
mate" he said very emphatically THE
meat never lost its animal heat, and
with its use our sickness increased 10
per cent. In country where our dead
putrefied in six hours you will easily
understand that meat killed and ex-
posed to the atmospheric changes, with
coagulated blood and the attacks of
flies, will spoil much sooner. our board
of survey had no work to do except
condemning and burning this local
killed beef"
Of the canned meat Major Harrison
spoke with equal emphasis. saying il
was fully as good as the refrigerator
beef and that none of it had to be con-
demned.
General Beaver asked if refrigerat-
ing plant were established there
whether Cuban beef could be killed on
the ground and rendered fit for use by
the men. Witness said he thought this
would not be desirable as the Cuban
cattle, while fine looking, furnished the
coarsest and most stringy beef he had
ever seen.
Witness said he was thoroughly
familiar with the processes of refriger-
atlng and butchering meat and he was
willing to state positively that there
were no chemicals used in any of the
American beef that passed under his
observation. On the contrary, he said
that there was no chemical preparation
that could be used on the meat with
advantage to the packers and without
running their product before they could
get it to the army. He regarded it as
highly improbable that anything of the
sort had been attempted.
Recurring to the hoof- killed beef at
Santiago, witness said the surgeons in
charge attributed the 10 per cent in
crease in intestinal sickness to the use
OF the fresh killed beef There was a
proportionate decrease in sickness when
the regiment returned to refrigerated
beef Major Harrison said he had no
complaint to make as to medical sun
plies or attendance. He considered the
whole supply system good