The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-13
the contractors or those in their en-
CANNED MEATS.


In considering questions concerning
canned meats it is not the duty of the
commission to inquire into the char
acter, kind or condition of all the
canned meats that may be in use in
this country. Our specific duty is to
give an opinion as to the quality of
those furnished the soldiers during the
recent war with Spain. There has
been neither allegation or proof before
US that boracic or salicylic or any
other acid has been used in the canned
meats furnished to the troops but
such meats have nevertheless been
greatly criticised, and they have for
that reason been tested by us and have
been analysed under our direction and
we have taken d great deal of testi-
mony as to the mode OF their prepara-
tion. The canned meat is ordinarily
F. taken from the forequarteTs of beeves.
The agricultural departments Off
claI reports upon the methods employed
by the packing houses, as required I'M
der the inspection regulations is in
corporated. The unanimous report
shows that a number of officers testi-
ned that canned beef was unpalatable
1t is also elected that in a tropical
country where it is subjected to in
tense heat, the meat presents a repul-
Sive appearance at first. Furthermore
1t tranSpireS that an inferior article is
found. But the records of the army
prove the canned beef has been used
for many years. and on October IS,
1897. the following official statement
was issued:
War Department, Adjutant Generals
Office. Washington. Oct. 10. 1897.
Mr.; w Z. Clark Marshall, Produce Ex-
change, Chicago
Sir: ] have the honor TO acknowledge
the receipt of your communication of the
!sth ulumo 10 the secretary of war, Civ
ing information regarding the proper rood
10 oe taken 10 the sufferers in Alaska and
also for the subsistence of the troops
there, and assembling the sickness in that
loca!ltV 10 the use of salt meats, and in
me 10 call attention to the following re-
marks of the medical department OF the
ARM, in which the major general COM
mdnding the army cOncurS:
Canned meats put uD by reputable
firms are wholesome ana have the full
nutritive value OF the meat contents and
IN the absence of such, are to be preferred
to any three substitutes suggested by the
writer. Meat, when sailed. loses a certain
proportion of its albuminoids and extract
ives, but what remains is valuable as food
and has no specific influence in the Dro-
duction of ScurVy. With hard bread |
bacon, pea meal and an occasional issue
OF fresh beef, or, in its absence canned |
meat, dietary of a satisfactory force
value can be provided. To these there
should be added for the prevention of !
ScurVy, occasional issues of pOtaroes !
unavoidable absence, dessicated vegeta- /
bleS and dried fruit. Very RESPECTFULLY /
w II. CARTER
Assistant Adjutant General.
Mailed Oct. 10. 1891"
All the above quotation is the endorse
ment upon the letter of Mr.. Marshall. |
signed by c. Smart. deputy surgeon gen
eral of the United States. The endorse /
ment of the major general commanding 1
is in the following words:
Headquarters of the Army Washington /
Oct. IS 1897.
The major general commanding con- |
ours in the remarks of the deputy surgeon
general fourth endorsement
(SignedD j. c. GILMORE,
Assistant Adjutant General"
The major general commanding here
referred TO is Major General Nelson A.
Miles.
The work of the signal corps is highly
commended, as is also that of the 0ay
the engineers department
and corps of engineers and the ord
nance department.
MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.
Brigadier General George NJ. Stern
berg in charge.
This important part of the report is
dwlet upon at great length by the COM
and must be read in its COM
Plete form to be properly understood.
A glance at the commissions summing
up. however, will sufficiently indicate
its nature:
Il. That at the outbreak of the war
the medical department was. in men
and materials, altogether unoreDared
to meet the necessities of the army
called. out. I,