Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-21
Prof, Clarke's Analysis of Refriger-
ated Beef Extract.
TELLS THE COMMISSION OF HIS WORK
Questioned at Length on His Work
by the Members.
PAYMASTER HICKS TESTIFIES

Prof. +. W. Clarke. the chemist OF the
| United States geological survey, reported
TO the war investigating commission
during the morning the result of chemical
tests made today Of the powder which Dr.
Daily testified yesterday was the rcsiduum
of AN analysis he had made Of tea or ex-
tract from refrigerated beef. called by him
| 'enibalmed beef" a part of the rations for
| sick soldiers returning from Ponce on tho
| transport Panama.
| 1t will be RENE mbered that Gen Miles
! quoted in his testimony from Dr. Daly's
| report to him, and the surgeon swore on
the stand that this residuum contained
| boric and salicylic acids. indicating that tho
| beef had been chemically and deleteriously
| preserved. The official corroboIadve test
| by Prof. Clarke was to have brra made
yesterday afternoon in the presence Of Dr.
| Daily and Dr. Conner Of the commission,
| but it postponed till $50 o'clock today.
| AT that hour DR.. Conner and Prof. Clarke
We're at the geological survey waiting Tor
| DR.. DAILY, but he was tardy, and as he did
| not reach there till nearly 10, Or Conner
| had to leave to attend the session of the
! commission. The test then was conducted
| by Prof Clarke and DR.. DAILY alone.
| Prof. Clarke TestiHes.
| About IL: 80 Prof. Clarke, unaccompanied,
reported to the commission. He was sworn
! at once and examined, first by DR.. Conner,
|
commissioner interrogated the witness.
! Prof. Clarke testified that IN DR. Daly's
! presence he took the brown powder In ques-
| tion and subjected il to various chemical
| tests. He said that the first was for boric
| acid the characteristics of which were dis
| covered, and the next Tor salicylic acid,
| which, too, found in the residuum.
| Gen. Beaver-''Tell us what residuum
would appear in tea made from beef con-
| tanning these acids"
| Prof. Clarke-'It would be likely TO give
| all the points / observed"
| He went to say that the rcsiduum of
| these is usually white, but the powder eK-
amined today was lightish brown in color
! He could not tell why. He had no idea Of
| the quantity of either agent used in the
| meat as alleged
That could be determined only by more
/ extended experiments and with more ma
! teral than DR. DAILY possesses. He could
| not tell in a general way how much OF these
acids would be necessary to preserve fresh
meat.
| General Beaver-'Wouldn't it he probable
| that meat kept from one to twelve days in
! cold storage, covered by cheese cloth, would
| be affected by substances in the cheese
! cloth?"
Prof Clarke-'I should think So
Questioned by thc Commission.
Responding to questions Prof. Clarke
said that he was familiar with the article
known as commercial 5oric acid. ami that
it is similar to that found in the rrsiduum,
Gen Beaver-"Then, for practical pur-
poses, the article which you found might
| have teen purchased in open market? %
Prof Clarke-''Ies, sir.
Gen. Beaver-"Can you combine boric and
salicylic acids without hltenng them
| through meat?''
Prof Clarke-"Nes. sir"
Cen Beaver-''So that it docs not ncces-
sar1ly follow that the product You eXam-
ined came from beef tea made from all
| legged preserved beef2''
Prof. Clarke-"Yes. sir. But don't know
where that product came from"
Gen. Beaver-"Thats all right ] simply
ask d hypothetical question. 1 don't ask
You as to whore il came from.
Gen. Beaver--What is the taste Of borlo
| acid?"
Prof Practically impercepible--
nothing"
Gen. Beaver-"Then. if a man said that
meat tasted like dccomposed boric acid you
would say he had no scientific knowledge or
the subject?
Prof. Clarke-'.I would not Ike to say
that"
GEN Beaver-'Oh don't name anybody.
The question is purely hypothetical"
Referring to Maj Dalys report to Gen.
Miles, Of which the commission has copies,
Gen. Beaver said:
DO you believe that any man ever tasted
decomposed boric acid?"
Il think it doubtful
Has boric acid an odor?'
None whatever"
Are any of the compounds available as
preservative agents odorous?'
No, SIR
Prof. Clarke stated that salicyIic acid also
is odorless He did not know whether or
not salicylic acid in meat would form any
compound that would produce an odor.
General BeaVer-'If boric acid were used
TO preserve meat, would 1t impart to the
meat a taste so bitter, nauseous and un-
pelatable to make IL unfit for user F"
lie quoted from DR.. Daly's report.
Prof. Clarke-'NO sir"
General Beaver-"Would the standing OF
meat, treated with such preservat YES, for
any length of time tend to make ii bitter?'
Prof. Clarke-"No. sir
General Beaver-"Would the Taste Of
meat. so treated and eaten, continue in the
mouth Of any individual for day?'
Prof. Clarke-"NO, sir
Use of Canned Reef i'm the Navy.
The witness stated the extent Of is duties
and his present station at the navy yard,
New York city. 1t is part of his duty to
purchase the supplies for vessels being
fitted out for cruises or expeditions.
Gen. BeaVer-''N hat knowledge ave you
of the commercial article known as canned
roast beef with regard, let me say, to It's
use a ration in The navy?"
Witness-"From personal know ledge I
should say it is a standard supply of the
navy
Gen Beaver-"what proportion Of the ra.
ton is canned roast beef2''
Witness-''I think about one-sev enth, or
about one day in seven for the field"
Gen. BeaVer--DO you issue the same
quality and quantity TO the men as to the
officers?"
witness-"we don't issue it to the of.
ficers.''
Gen. Beaver-"why not?"
Witness-"oficers purchase th ir own
stores.'
Gen. Beaver-"Have you person uy used
the canned roast beefg'
Witness-"Yes. SIR. | should say it was
good unquestionably."
Gen. Beaver-"So that your per )nal ex-
perience tallies with your knoNlcl % as an
inspecting officer?"
Witness-"Nes, sir
Gen. Beaver-"What do you think as to
its use in the navy-as to the satisl action It
gives?'
Witness-"It is perfectly satisfactory"
Gen. Beaver-"Have you had any en-.
perience with ii in tropical regions?"
Witness-''Yes. sir"
Gen. Beaver-"Have you observed any
difference in 1t due to differences in cli-
mater"
Witness-"Not to any extent"
The witness then was handed several
cans of roast beef by General Beaver and
asked IL he was familiar with the brands.
Mr. Hicks knew some of them. He said
that the navy does not always buy direct