Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-23
IN MILES FAVOR.
Prof. Clarke, Chemist Selected
by the Commission,
Finds Boric and SaIicy|ic Acids in
Days Beef Residuum.
Tests by Government chemis. Finds Meats Free
from Injurious Matter.

Clarke, chemist OF the United States
geological survey. Saturday. reported
to the war investigating committee
that his test of the powder furnished
by Surgeon DAILY as being the residuum
from the boiling down of a portion of
the condemned beef on the Panama
disclosed the presence of both borc
ana salicylic acids.
Prof. Clarke was closely examined
He said the powder was of a brownish
color. while pure borax is white, but he
did not. explain the difference.
Witness said he could say nothing Of
the origin of the materials tested, nor
could he state the probable amount of
these chemical agents used that would
be extracted in making tea from che
beef without more material and longer
time.
Large quantities of such chemicals
for preservatives. however. he said,
would be unnecessary ana would be an
expensive waste. The boric acid, he
said. imparts no odor whatever to
meat. The saicyic acid also, he SAID
was odorless. and he could not say
whether it forms any compounds with
the flesh of cattle that would produce
odor.
Would it not be probable" he was
asked, that meat kept for n time
varying from one to Il weeks in cold
storage. covered by cheesecloth. would
be affected by the substances in the
cheesecloth?'
Il should think so," was the reply.
lis ii possible to get: both these
agents present.
Yes sir; we found both-in. he ma
terial submitted, .purpor;ing to be 4
f1eak extract" -. Z
..R,ancs not: necessarily foltosJ
tpcln " SUGGESTED Gen. Beaver THAI
the.iroduet YOU .exan1iuea sNsne froni
80, I-lidni inisile into IFS origin.
Gen. -Beaven read from. Surgeon
DAYS report an Che beef on the Pana-
~. FIGURED at Ponce. saying some of
1t 'tssfgl like decomposed boric acld."
: ....dpN. 'siuA was asked, '1f.there is not
'spy .pyrceftibe taste IN. boric acid.
,,svotfM Es ase. in amy quantity in meat
,inpar3eaRws hca taste" -
:. 2 ss'sa'a ssy pat. answered q. the wit
: fheh, ave .h3ve disposed of that"
t6mn1eIte1 Gsii. Beaver.
sWHu8sss Said he. knew of no such
thing Is <eeomposed boric acid, and
rom a. scientific .poin, q view the ex-
preston was meaningless: that bNio
acid in such quantities as was likeIysro
DE used would leave 20 taste in.rthe
mouth Of an inN-idual, as hatk been
testified to yesterday by Surgeon Dals
would the treatment ef Aoric -sor
salicylic acids make any Gifferense in
the odor or stencil. frsn1.. DELAYED
beef % 1nterrupsz4l ex-Gov. woodbury..
That woui take actual Fexpefi~
tment.' was stfie reply, There. might
u some slightly different .prodast Of
,Hltrefaction.' 4 :.
: ASKED as t94lm esliecs. on AealsA q
3sing beef inf gtsd with ,borst asil Vits
ness said it would be A4ativelydkarn
less. but that ahaIus% ~ ssalicyH acid
was different and was prohibited ny
most European countriN Thes use Of
boric acid on meats ft lfshed troops.
in his opinion. woula be of very little
Importance from heaithsvfew. but
the salicylic acid would besobiectiona-
VIC. - lie Atceh1~"eIc Nspt - HuuiS
after leaving Refrigerator the chem
icals might INTERROGATION
If the borie IN Sere used in the
meat. would it IND s testified to, a
taste SO bitteT~S3 Sse Ascend unpala-
table as to maEs; spni Tor use?' wit
sir s.
Paymaster Thoma&(H. Hicks. u. s.
n. assistant storekecber at the New
York navy yard, testified that the can
ned roast beef ssas satisfactory in the
navy. was palalable and good, and that
he saw no reason why it should not be
a good emergency ration for the army,
as it was a regular ration in the navy.
Asked what proportion of the ration
In the navy the canned roast beef forms
he said about one-seventh. He went
on 10 say that he had not noticed any
material difference in the canned roast
beef when taken to tropical climate.
He said if IA can should be puncturcd
the beef would decay and give out an
offensive odor. but it would not hurt
the other cans. A can. he said. would
last some hours after being opened.
He admitted that there is good deal
of beef that is not palatable. Much Of
the beef used at his yard was generally
but last June. he had oc-
casion to reject some the firm furnished
because dry and pnpalatable.
Two cans bought in open market at
random We're opened and their contents
tasted by the members of the commits
sion. eacteof whom declared it had a
good flavor and taste
SAMPLES ALL GOOD.