Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-05
BEEF DISPLEASES SCIENTIST
Medical Expert Finds Ration an 0ffense tt
Nostrils and Palate.
INJECTION OF PRESERvATIVE IS APPARENT
Natural Flavor Is Destroyed and De-
fective Cold Storage Completes the
Unfitness Of Ration for Use
of Troops.

WASHINGTON, April 4.-Dr William II.
Daily was the first witness before the beef
inquiry court today. He was a medical mem
ber of General Miles staff in Porto Rico
| and had previously testified before the court
and was recalled to complete his testimony
then begun. After relating the extent of his
service. with General Miles, DR.. DAILY stated
in response to questions from Major Lee
that he had been made president of various
national medical societies of the United
States and a member of foreign societies in
recognition of scientific investigations by
himself and without any asking on his part.
DR.. Days testimony dealt on this occa-
sion, as on his first appearance, especially
with the beef supplied to the army. He had,
he said, made sufficient observations to war
rant him in submitting an official report,
and after that time he had made an analysis
whb2h had confirmed his suspicious as to
the meat. His first observations had been
made on transport at Tampa before the
sailing of the expedition to Santiago, when
Colonel Weston invited his attention to a
quarter of beef hanging on the deck Colonel
Westons only remark was: Here's a quar-
ter of beef which has been hanging here for
sixty hours in the sun; we are going to see
what it will do"
No reference was made to preservatives.
His CDR. Daly's) attention had Immediately
been aroused. Il was rather pleased" he
said. Il felt that If the beef could be pre-
served so long 1t was a good thing"
He then cut off piece of the beef and
cooked and ate it next day. After that he
became sick at the stomach, but he had not
felt convinced that the meat had caused the
sickness
Meat is Thrown Overheard.
Ii. n,
Rico, DR.. Daily detailed the particulars of
the trip north en- the transport Panama last
September, which was in his charge. The
vessel had been provided on setting out
with the best obtainable refrigerated beef,
but the vessel had not gone far before it
became evident that it not good. He
did all that he could to quiet the complaints,
but they increased and the stencil soon
grew so strong that 1t peryaded the whole
ship. The odor was indescribable. He at
last suggested a board OF survey and one
being ordered it had condemned the meat
left, about 1900 pounds and he had it
thrown overheard,
Here Dr. Daily took occasion to pay his
respects to the war commission, before
which he had appeared. He said the COM
mission had given out the impression that
the deterioration Of the beef on the Panama
TO his testimony and the truth could easily
have been ascertained. AS matter of fact
the Panama had an excellent refrigerator
and it carried ten tons OF ice 10 one of beef
He also referred to the criticism in the war
commission of his use Of the expression in
his report that the smell about the beef was
like the odor of boric acid. 1t is he said.
"as difficult to say what a smell is like as
1t is for an artist to paint a dying groan.
II the phrase was offensive" he added, II
might have adopted the language OF the sol
diers. some of whom said 1t smelt like the
devil. while others compared 1t to a bouquet
OF cesspools"
DR.. DAILY said he had since made ex-
periments upon beef subjected to treat
ment by boric acid and had found It gave
forth about as foul a smell as could we'll |
be imagined
Major Lee then read various reports made |