The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-22
SOLDIERS D|sL|kED IT
Poisons Generated in the Canned
Roast Beef.
DR.. Semi ON THE STAND
The Stuff Was Without Nutritive Quail
ties-Absolutely Unfit for Ration.
General Miles Witnesses
Next to Be Heard.

Chicago, March 21.-The government
court OF inquiry tonight examined two
witnesses with reference to the beef
question-Dr. Nicholas Sem and Lieut..
Col. A. w. Corliss. DIR. Sem entirely
disapproved of canned roast beef as an
army ration for any length of time, and
Colonel Corliss told of the soldiers dis
like of it. The court will hold an all
day session tomorrow and will leave
for New York tomorrow night or
Thursday morning. The remaining wit
nesses will be those suggested by Major
Lee in behalf of Major General Miles.
DR.. Nicholas Sem of Chicago, who
served in Cuba and Porto Rico, testified
that the troops in Cuba lived largely on
canned roast beef and bacon He had
every reason to believe that the canned
beef was not roasted but boiled. 1t was
tasteless and certainly appeared to lack
nutritious qualities, as was apparent
from the condition of the men who re-
turned from Cuba to Montauk-men
who had never been i'll, but were great
ly emaciated. He believed that the
meat was overdone-that there was
some fault in the process of preparation
that the process had not been perfect
ed. The bacon was of good quality.
He could say nothing about refrigerated
beef, because he did not see any of it
In Cuba or Porto Rico. He made no
formal inspection of the canned roast
beef, but had eaten some of it and his
statements were based on his own ex-
nria ~,
supplies for the future for the army
should be dried beef. Men could be fed
once or twice a week on canned roast
beef without i'll effect on their health.
but as daily ration for any length of
time he would not consider it a safe or
advisable ration. When the packers
learned how to make real roast beef he
thought it would be an excellent thing,
but not as an exclusive diet.
In reply to General Davis, the wit
ness stated that he saw no evidence of
the use of chemicals in the canned roast
beef. He had heard of cases of ptomaine
poisoning, but did not see any.
Ptomaines would not develop if the
meats were thoroughly sterilized and
properly sealed. When opened the meat
should keep "a hours 1t would not be
safe to eat it after that time.
In answer to questions of Colonel Gill
lespie, the witness stated that he really
could not say whether the fresh meat he
ate in Porto Rico was refrigerated meat
or native. He thought it was the lat
ter. The meat was wholesome and pal
atable.
Gen. A. W. Corliss, who was attached
to the 7th infantry in Cuba. testified
that he was shot on the LIST of July and
knew nothing of conditions thereafter.
up to that time he said, I'VE got
good deal of canned corned beef and
canned roast beef, also bacon in small
quantities. Complaints were received
about the canned roast beef; it was dis
liked very much. The officers and men
had the same ration. We tried to eat
the canned roast beef and did eat it;
but in order to do so, we had to mix it
up with hard tack and fry it. We tried
to eat in plain, but could not: it made
us sick; gave US bowel trouble
Major Lee did not cross-examine the
witness and the court had no questions
to ask. The court adjourned until 10
clock tomorrow morning.