Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-22
ALL ABOUT BEEF
DR.. Daly's Beef Tea Subjected to
Analysis.
The War Investigating Commissions
Expert on tho Witness stand Mas
val Pnymnsters Also Give Their
Experience and knowledge Airing
tBy Telegraph to virgInlan-pno,.,

! u. w. clarke, chemist OF the United
States Geological Survey, to-day re-
ported to the War Investigating Com
mission that mis- test of the powder
furnished by Surgeon DAILY as being the
residum from the boiling down of a
| portion of the condemned beef on the
Panama, disclosed the presence of both
boric and sallcylic acids Prof. Clarke
| took the witness stand and was closely
examined. He said the powder was OF
L brownsh color. while pure boraX is
white. but did not explain the differ
ences. Witness said he could say moth
| ing 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 the beef without more material
! and longer time. Large quantities of
such chemicals for preservatives. how
ever he said would be unnecessary and
| would be an expensive waste. The
| boric acid. he said, imparts no odor
whatever to meat. The salicylic also
he-said,- -ederless anti-hc could not
say whether it forms any compounds
| with the flesh of cattle that would pro-
ducc odor.
DISPOSING OF DIFFICULTIES.
Would it not be probable he was
asked. that meat kept for Il time
| varying from one TO twelve weeks in
cold storage. covered by chcesccloth
would be affected by the substances in
the cheesccloth?"
Il should think So" was the reply.
is 1T possible to get both these
| agents PRESENT.
Yes, sir We found that in the
material submitted, purporting to be a
| meat extract"
1T does not necessarily follew. then.
suggested General Beaver, that the
| product you examined came from beef
tea?"
NO; did not inquire into its origin"
General Beaver read from Surgeon
Daly report on the beef on the Pan
| anna procured at Ponce. saying some of
1t tasted like decomposed boric acid. /"
| Now he asked IF there Is NOT
any pcrceptible taste in boric acid.
would it's use in any quantity in meat
| impart any such taste?"
Witness
Then we have disposed of that"
commented General Beaver.
witness said he knew of no such
'hinE as decomposed boric acid. and
mat from IL scientific point Of view the
Suppression was meaninglcss-that boric
! icld IN such quantities as likely wouId
no used would leave no taste in tho
mouth OF an Individual as had been
ltS'ined to yesterday by Surgeon DAILY.
WHAT THE PROFESSOR KNOWS.
wv ould the treatment of boric or
saiicylic acids make any difference in
me odor or stencil from decayed beef?"
INTERRUPTED Ex-Governor Woodbury..
Ihat would take actual expert
ment,' was the reply; there might
| be some slightly different product of
putrefacticn." Asked as to the effect
on health of using beef injected with
! the boric acid. witness said it world HI.
relatively harmless. but that the use
| OF salicylic acid would be different. ana
was prohibited by most European
countries. The Use of the boric acid
on meat furnished TROOPS in his opin-
/ ION would be OF very little Importance
/ from a health View, but the salicylic
| acid would be objectionable. The eff
! feet of the preservatives he said. was
TO make the meat keep longer. If the
| meat were kept "a hours after leaving
/ the rcfrigerator the chemicals might
/ retard putrefaction.
/ II the boric acid were used in tho
meat would it impart. as has been tos-
/ tilted to. a taste so bitter. nauseous and
/ unpalatablc as 10 make it unfit for
use" witness was asked. and he re-
/ Piled
NO, sir"
If NOT, WHY NOT?
Paymasters Henry G.. Colbert and
! Thomas IL. Hicks, L. S. N, also tes-
! tilted. The former told Of large pur-
chases of beef he had made for the
navy from the same firms which sup
piled the army. He said the meat gave
general satisfaction.
When asked il there were any evil
! dences of chemicals being used he an
swered in the negative
Mr.. Hicks. who is assistant store
| keeper at The New York navy yard, tes-
tilted that the timed roast beef was
! satisfactory to the navy. was palata-
BILE and good, and that lie saw no
reason why ii should not be a good
/ emergency ration for the army as it
was a regular ration in the navy. lie
wen, on to say he had noticed no ma
terial difference in the timed roast beef
| when taken TO a tropical climate He
said 4 can Of the beef if hole should
| penetrate it, would decay and give out
an offensive odor, but it would not hurt
the other cans. a can. ne said. would
las; some hours after opened. He ad-
! United that there is Il good deal of beef
that is not palatable. Much of the
beef used at his yard had come from
Libby. McNcill and Libby which was
generally satisfactory. but last June ne
| had occasion 20 reject some they fur
nished because dry'a unpalatabla. lie
demonstrated the method of opening
the cans. and two cans bought in open
market ut random were opened and
their contents tasted by the men,ber
of the commission. Each member de-
clared it had a good flavor and taste.
Troops sail For cuba.
(By Telegraph to Virginian-Pnot.,
Savannah, Ca. Jan. 2I.--The trans