The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-04-06

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cipal witnesses before the beef inquiry
court today were Professor Russell H.
Ckittenden of Yale college and DR.. Sam
uel A. Currie, who was lieutenant col
onel of the Second New Jersey regi-
ment, which was stationed at Jackson
vile during the war. Professor Chit
tenden is one of the chemists selected
by the government to analyze the
canned roast beef. He presented his
report, showing that the beef generally
was good. No chemicals had been found
by him in its preparation, and it was
generally wholesome. He, however, eN-
pressed doubt as to whether the heat OF
the tropical climate would not cause the
fat in the cans to liquefy, and thus
render the food displeasing to the
sight Colonel Davis stated that most
of the cans from which samples were
taken for analysis had been exposed TO
the heat Of tropical countries, some OF
the cans being brought from Havana
for the purpose of test.
DR. Currie testified that the refrige-
rator beef supplied at Jacksonville had
on some occasions made the men sick
He had made chemical analysis of the
beef, which, in one case, showed the
presence of salicylic acid and in another
of boracic acid.
Major Lee presented more of the cor
respondence between General Miles and
the court, and put in a request on be-
half of the general that nine of the 1SO
witnesses whose names he had hereto
fore suggested be called, saying that
they would testify concerning refrig-
orator beef and chemically treated beef.
The court did not indicate whether the
request would be complied with.
Lieutenant Colonel L. NJ. Maus, who.
as chief medical officer of the Seventh
army corps, served in various camps in
the southern states during the Spanish
war; said there had been very little
complaint concerning the meat. AT
Jacksonville the men had found it
necessary to cook the refrigerator meat
as soon as received, as otherwise it be.
came tainted. In one instance an en-
tire company of troops had been made
sick, as he believed, by eating the
meat. 1t was also noticed that an I'M
usual proportion of the men thus eff
fected went down with typhoid fever. 1t
was afterwards developed that the cook
knew the meat was tainted before he
cooked it.
DR.. CURRIE FOUND ACIDS.
Dr. Samuel L. Currie, lieutenant colo
charge of a detail of 109 men to con-
struct a range in Jacksonville in June
and July. Often the men were COM
PEELED to throw away the meat sent
them for dinner. On one occasion there
was especial trouble, and the next day
after eating this meat only tWenty-fouT
men were able to report for duty. He
had tested a piece of this meat for sal
icyclic acid, getting a decided reaction
On another occasion he secured a be-
racic acid reaction.
zone popularity of the meat he
said, was that it kept so well and smelt
so badly
When men would throw it up. often
many hours after eating, it was still
found undecomposed. He had consid-
cred the canned meat unfit for his men
TO eat, ana had advised them not tc
eat it.
DR.. Currie expressed the opinion that
the refrigerator beef had been soaked
in some preservative fluid, containing
salicyclic acid, but he afterwards said
his first idea was that the acid haC
been injected.
DR.. Currie said he had discovered
some ten or twelve years ago, by ac-
tual tests. that Swift & Co. used sali-
cyclic acid TO preserve their meats
Two months ago he had made a SINH
lar test of beef furnished by Armour &
Co. at his own home in Englewood, n
J., and had found that it contained
salicyclic acid.
Major Lee asked that some men of
the rife range detail be summoned be-
fore the court. but the court did not
respond to the request
MILES WITNESSES EXCLUDED.
Major Lee then read the reply of the
court to General Miles request for
summoning of l31 witnesses named by
him, and General Miles reply asking
that they be placed in the record.
The letter to General Miles was writ
ten by Recorder Davis Of the court OF
inquiry. 1t was dated yesterday, and
read as follows:
Il beg to acknowledge the receipt of
your favor of the Sd inst, enclosing tbs
final list Of witnesses.
Il am directed 10 say that such of the
persons named as appear from the
statement submitted to be in posses
sion of facts not already covered by the
testimony Of witnesses, will be sum
m0ned to appear with the least posi-
BILE delay"
General Miles reply said. in part:
1T is my belief that at least 25OOC
men and undoubtedly a much greater
number viii confirm the testimony that
has already been given that a portion
Of the food supplied the army was IN
wholesome and unsuitable for use. !
therefore request that the small num-
Der Of witnesses G3D whose names
have just been submitted, may be called
upon to give their testimony before
your court"
The general understanding about the
court is that the request will not be
compiled with.