The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-05-12
THE PURE FOOD PROBE.
Consumers Will Probably Profit by
the Investigation.
DANGER IN USING ANT1sEPT1os

Manufacturers MAY BE Compelled by
Lay to Print on the Labels the Kind
Eof Personalities Used In Putting Up
the Goods.
Chicago, May 12.-Before the SEN
ate pure food committee yesterday
four prominent witnesses testified as
to the effect on the human stomach Of
the use of antiseptics and "embalming
fluids" and preservatives in foods and
drink. In general they were agreed
that the substances used were deleteri-
GUS and that in many cases they were
poisonous. Either prohibit their use,
they declared, or compel the manufac-
turer and user to brand them plainly
and explicitly, so that the consumer
may know exactly what is being eaten
These witnesses were Henry G.. Pif-
fard, a New York physician: Abbott
G. Prescott, dean of the School of
Pharmacy of the University of Mich
igan and professor of hygenic chem
istry; Victor G. Vaughn, dean of the
medical faculty at Ann Arbor and pro-
fessor of hygiene, and H. G. Adams,
dairy and food commissioner in Wis
consin.
Dr. Piffard made specific reference
to foods and drugs which are being
generally adulterated, sometimes with
dangerous results to the consumer
Bronze seltzer, he said, is one of these.
Properly, it should consist of bromide
of potassium or some other substance
of that kind and the ingredients Of
seltzer water.
But it appears" he continued that
acetanilide is being extensively used
instead. In the now famous Adams
case the experts examination of the
bromo showed the presence, In addition
to the acute poison, of acetanilide so
that l believe it's use is widespread"
The commissioners made this state
ment at the close of the day:
"The things which seem to stick out
about the details of the investigation
are the facts that antiseptics are used
indiscriminately and to defraud and
deceive; that they are In most cases
deleterious and in some positively
dangerous. Second that in the absence
of explicit labels dishonest manufac-
turers are enabled to put spurious
goods on the market. These things
will be looked after in the proposed
legislation"
The testimony of witnesses already
heard has attracted wide attertion in
all parts of the country. Letters are
beginning to pour in from New York,
San Francisco and other cities in gen.
eral accord with the testimony as pub
lished. Among others a letter came
from Jacob Baise, of New York, en-
phasizing the statements made on cof-
fee by Graeme Stewart.
Senator Mason left last night for
Horton, Kan, where he is to deliver
an address. Senator Harris will ex-
anime several witnesses today and will
then leave for New York The COM
missions work in Chicago will be post
poned after today for an indefinite
time.
Beer is soon to be put to a severe
test by the committee. A scientific
analysis of all brands offered in the
open market will be made by the gov
ernment experts at Washington, and
their report will become a part OF the
commissions records. Senator Mason
said that the regulations in regard to
beer would receive serious attention.
The committee has purchased In Chi
cago many samples of butter, pepper,
coffee, jeilies and canned goods for
analytical examination in Washington
The samples will be freed of their
labels and the experts will make their
Investigations without knowledge Of
the brand or source of the articles.