The age-herald., 1899-03-22
SENN SAYS THE
 BEEF WAS BAD The Fault Lies in Its Mode Of Prepara- ton. | UNFIT FOR FOOD FOR TROOPS Saw No Evidence of the Use of Chem
 iCalC. THE PACKERS HAVE MUCH TO LEARN When the Art of ofPreparing Canned Roast Beefis Perfected the Product Will
 Prove an Excellent Diet for Soldiers.
UNFIT FOR FOOD FOR TROOPS
THE PACKERS HAVE MUCH TO LEARN

Chicago March 2.-The government court of inquiry tonight examined two witnesses with reference to the beef question-Dr. Nicholas Senn and Lieutenant-Colonel A. W. Corliss. Dr. Senn entirely disapproVed of canned roast beef as an army ration for any length of time, and Colonel Corliss told of the soldiers dislike for it. The court will hold an all-day session tomorrow, ex- pecting to leave for New York tomorrow evening. The remaining witnesses will be those suggested by Major Lee in behalf of Major-General Miles.
 Dr. Nicholas Senn, of Chicago, who served in Cuba and Porto Rico. testified that the troops in Cuba lived largely on canned roast beef and bacon. He had every reason to believe that the canned beef was not roasted, but boiled. It was tasteless, and certainly appeared to lack nutritious quail ities, was apparent from the condition of the men who returned from Cuba to Montauk-men who had never been i'll, but were greatly emaciated. He believed that the meat was oyerdone; that there was some fault in the process of preparation that the process has not been perfected.
 Bacon or Good Quality
 The bacon was of good quality. He could say nothing about refrigerator beef, because he did not see any of 1t in Cuba or Porto Rico. He made no formal inspection of the canned roast beef, but had eaten some of it, and his statements were based on his own experience. It was evidently good meat-was of good quality but, as stated before, was not properly prepared-was overcooked in boiling He thought one of fta army should be dried beef Men could be fed once or twice week on canned roast beef without ill effect on their health, but as daily ration for any length of time he would not consider it a safe or advisa- ble ration. When the packers learned how to make real roast beef he thought 1t would be an excellent thing, but not as an exclusive diet. Tho canned roast beef was used very extensively in Cuba but the ra- ton in Porto Rico was very much better seemed to be better prepared.
 In reply to General Davis, the witness stated that the meat as prepared by the packers according to the testimony given would not lose much of its nutrition on account of being boiled in the cans. He saw no evidence of the use of chemicals in the canned roast beef. He had heard of cases of ptomaine inocculat ton, but did not see any. Ptomaines would not develop NA sHS AAN'ee "oo thoAO OuSiiy SleIAllZSQ. anu properly sealed.
 Should Keep 24 HuuIs
 When opened the meat would keep twenty-four hours. It would not be safe to eat it after that time. In answer to ques- tions of Colonel Gillespie, the witness stated that he really could not say whether the fresh meat he ate in Porto Rico was refrigerator beef or native. He thought it was the latter The meat was wholesome and palatabe.
 General A. W. Corliss, who was attached to the Seventh infantry in Cuba, testified that he was shot the 1st of July, and knew nothing of conditions there after that.
 Up to that time," he said, i've got good deal of canned corn beef and canned roast beef, also bacon in small quantities. Complaints were received about the canned roast beef; it was disiked very much. The officers and men had the same ration. We tried to eat the canned roast beef, and did eat it, but in order to do so we had to mix it up with hardtack and fry it. We tried to eat 1t plain, but could not; it made us sick, gave us bowel trouble"
 Major Lee did not cross-examine the wit ness and the court had no questions to ask. The court adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow.