The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-12
ALL ENBALMED FOODS
SHOULD BE LABELED.
Discussion Before the Senats Com
mittss Of Dangerous Pre-
o@vatiyeA

n HcAao. May n.-Befor' the
senate committee today four
prominent witnesses testified
~ TO the effect on the human
stomach Of the use Of antissptics
and emhalming fluids and preserva-
tives In food and drink. In general
they were agreed that the sub
stances used we're deleserioss. and
that IN many cases they were pois.
onous- Either prohibit their use.
they declared. or compel the manu-
facturers and users to brand them
plainly and explicitly. % that the
consumer may know exactly what
II being eaten.
These witnesses were Henry q.
PiffArd. New York physician. Alb
bott c. Prescott. dean Of the school
Of pharmacy Of the University OF
Michigan and professor Of hyg;enic
chemistry; Victor c. Vaughn. dean
Of the medical faculty at Ann Ar
bor and professor Of hygiene. and
H. c. AdamA dairy and food COM
missioner In Wisconsin
DR.. Pinard made specific refer
ences TO foods and drugs which are
being generally adu,terated. some
times with a dangerous result 70 the
consumer. Bromo- seaszer. ne said. -
one OF these. Properly 1t should
consist Of bromide OF potassium or
other substance Of that kind. and
the ingredients Of seltzer water.
but It appears" he continued.
that acsselide Is being extensively
used instead. In the now famous
Adams case the experts examina-
ton Of the bromo showed the pres
ence. in addition to the acute poison,
Of aceselide. 80 that l believe its use
is widespread"
The committeeman made this
statement at the close Of the day:
"The things which seem
60 stick out above the de-
tails ef the investigates
are the facts that antisep-
tics are used lndiacGiml-
nately 10 aefraud and de-
ceives that they are In
most cases AeletePious, ana
In sone positively danger
ous. Second, that In the
absence Of explicit labels,
dishonest manufacturers
are enabled te pat spurious
gssas 3l the 1aTkst.
TAsss shlnus van % lssk.
81 after N the proposed
exanination.S
The testimony of witnesses already
heard has attracted wfde attention
IN all parts Of the country. Letters
are beginning TO pour in from New
York, San Francieco and other cit
ies in general accord with the testi-
mony a. published Among others
a letter came from Jacob Kise. Of
New York. today. emphasizing the
statements made on coffee by
Graeme Stewart.
Nf..r~ 3~%t s1~t-At g..
Horton. Kan. where he is TO deliver
a commencement address. Senator
Harris win examine several wit
nesses tomorrow and will then leave
for New York The committees
work IN Chicago Will ba postponed
after tomorrow for an indefinite
time
Beer Is soon TO be put to = severe
test. An analysis Of ali brands Of
fered IN the open market win ne
male by the government experts
a. Washington. and their report
Will become q part of the commit
tees report. Senator Mason slid
that the regulations In regard 10
beer would receive attention.
TIE committee has purchased in
Chicago many samples OF butter,
pepper. coffee, jeliies and canned
goods for examination In Washing
tor. The samples viii he freed os
their labels. and the experts will
make their investigation wi;hou:
knowledge of the brand or source
OF the articles