The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-04-06
MORE PROOF MAY COME
IL SLAUGHTER HOUSE MEN
WILL TOE THE MARK.
REVELATIONS MADE C0NfIOENTlAlLY
Miles Offers Witnesses in Throngs, and the
Board Promises 10 Take The Matter Under
Consideration, Though Needing no
More, it Says.

w Washington, Apfll 4.-Ine army court
of inquiry to-day heard DR.. VIM. III.
DAILY in regard to the character of beef
furnished for the army during the late
war.
DR.. Days testimony dealt on this oc-
cason, as on his first appearance, espe-
cially with the beef supplied to the
army. His first observation had been
made on transport ut Tampa before
the sailing of the expedition to Santiago.
where Colonel Weston invited his atten-
ton to quarter of beef hanging ON the
deck. Colonel Westons only remark
was Here's quarter of beef which has
been hanging here for sixty hours in the
sun: we are going to see what it will
do No reference was made to preser-
natives.
He, (Mr Dalyl cut off piece of the
beef and cooked and ate it the next day.
After that he became sick at the stom-
ach, but he had not felt convinced that
the meat caused the sickness.
After some references to his stay in
Porto Rico DR.. DAILY detailed the parti-
culars of the trip north on the trans
port Panama last September, which was
in his charge The vessel had been pro-
vided ON setting out with the best OBJ
tainable refrigerator beef, but the vessel
had not gone far before it became evil
dent that it was not good.
He did all that he could 10 quiet the
complaints. but they increased. and the
stencil soon grew SO strong that it per-
vaded the whole ship. Tue odor was
indescribable. He at last suggested
board of survey, and one being ordered
it had condemned the meat left, about
1000 pounds, and he had had it thrown
overheard.
Here DIR. DAILY took occasion to nay his
respects to the war commission before
which he had appeared. He said the
commission had given out the impression
that the deterioration of the beef on the
Panama was due to want of ice This
was contrary to his testimony, and the
truth could easily have been ascertained.
As matter of fact the Panama had
an excellent refrigerator, and it car
ried 10 tons of ice to one of beef
DR.. DAILY said he had since made ex-
perilnents upon beef subjected to treat
ment by boric acid, and had found it 20
give forth about as foul a smell as could
well be imagined.
Major Lee then read various reports
made by Mr.. DAILY concerning official
inspections of the beef at the camps at
Jacksonville, Lexington, Chickamauga.
All these stated that the meat used gen
orally looked well. but that there was
a universal complaint Of its smelling
badly. He had found the fresh beef to
be apparently preserved by the injection
of some chemical which destroyed its
natural flavor, and which must of neces-
sity have been injurious to the health Of
those eating it. 1t was to his mind i'm
possible to preserve meat without the
use of acids, and apparently the meat
had been preserved 'by the injection of
chemicals to aid the work of defective
cold storage" In one case he had found
the odor similar to that of a dead hui
man body and in another, speaking of
the odor, he said: 1T was unnatural,
mawkish, sickly, like that of a human
cadaver after an undertaken had inject
ed his embalming preservative.'
He was satisfied that the beef had
been chemically prepared-that it had
been embalmed in fact. After his re-
ports had gone in he had, in order to
satisfy his own mind, made chemical
analysis of residium from the beef used
on the transport Panama and had found
distinct evidence of the presence of
boric and salycilic acid. He then refer
red again TO the report of the war com
mission, in which reference had been
made to the use of these drugs. the init
nation being that trace of them would
not be injurious.
Replying, DIR. DAILY asserted that the
chemicals were detrimental to health,
and they could only be used at the peril
of those taking them.
Here DIR. DAILY introduced joint re-
port made by Dr. Clark, chief chemist
and DIR. Hilderbrandt, chemist Of the
Geological Survey on an analysis made
by them of residium from the beef used
OH the Panama.
In this report they said they had exam
ined the powder furnished by DIR. Daily.
Both the flame test and the turmeric
paper test give distinct evidence of the
presence of boric acid" they said: I'VE
also obtained good reactions with ferric
chloride showing the presence of salycilic
acid
In response to general question, Dr.
DAILY said he had come into much IN
formation conirnatory o. what he had
testified to, ont which had come to lin
in confidential way, rend Ariag it i'm
proper for him to give the names cf
those supoy,ns it. IN truth . ban had
been placed upon he information He
thought that some 40 or so pe.1ons ha0
spoken to him in corroboratien of what
he had said. These were thu propre-
tors of slaughtering houses and the man
ufacturers of chemicals.
He said after some questioning that he
would ascertain whether he could give
the names of these people to the court
After DR.. DAILY had completed his tes-
timony Major Lee submitted a written
request from General Miles for the ad-
mission Of the official reports of 147 men
representing 26 regiments as testimony,
1t was stated that these reports all bore
upon the question of the character of
beet supplied to the army and were per-