Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-12
DELETERIOUS PRESERVATIVES
THEIR USE SHOULD BE PROHIBITED
OR ADVERTISED.
Beer Soon to Be Put to n Severe TEST
by the Committee-Qunnti of
Samples of Foods Are
Being Secured for
Analysis.

CHICAGO, May 11.-Before the senate
committee to-day.four prominent witnesses
testified to the effect the human
stomach from the use of antiscptics I'D
embalminS fluids and preservatives in foods
and drink In general they were agreed that
the substances used We're deleteriouS, and
that, i'll many cases, they We're pois nous.
Either prohibit their use, they declared, OF
compel the manufacturer and user to brand
them plainly and explicitly so that the con-
s'lmer may know exactly what is being
eaten.
These witnesses were Henry G.. Pifard.
New York physician; Abbott G. Prescott.
dean of the school of pharmacy of the
University of Michigan, and professor OF
hysienic chemistry: Victor e. Vaughn,
dean of the medical faculty at Ann Arbor
and professor OF hygiene, and II. c. Adams,
dairy and food commissioner of Wisconsin.
DIR. Piffard made specific references to
foods and drugs which are being generally
adulterated, sometimes with dangerous re-
suits to the consumer. Bromo setzer, he
said, is one of these. Properly. it should
consist of bromide of potassium or some
other substance of that kind, and the in
gradients of seltzer water. But it ap-
pears" he continued, that acetanilide is
being extensively used instead. In the
now famous Adams case, the experts ex-
animation of the bromo showed the pres
ence, in addition to the acute poison, of
acetanilide, so that l believe its use. is
widespread"
The commissioners made this statement
at the close of the day:
THE things which seem to stick out
above the details of the investigation are
the facts that antiseptics are used indis-
criminately, and to defraud and deceive.
,l,o hax- in, dol
in some positively dangerous. Second, that.
in the absence of explicit labels, dishonest
manufacturers 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 attention in all
parts of the country. Letters are beginning
to pour in from New York, San Francisco
and other cities in general accord with the
testimony as published Among others d
letter came from Jacob Baize, of New
York, to-day, emphasizing the statements
made on coffee by Graeme Stewart;
Senator Mason left tonight for Horton.
kaS., where he is to deliver a commence
ment address. Senator Harris will ex-
anime several witnesses tomorrow, and
will then leave for New York. The COM
missions work in Chicago will be post
poned after. tomorrow for an indefinite
time
Beer is soon to be put to a severe test
ny the committee. n Sclentl1lC analysis
OF all brands offered in the open market
will be made by the government experts
at Washington, and their report will be-
come part of the commissions record
Senator Mason said that the regulations
in regard to beer would receive serious at
tention.
The committee has purchased in Chicago
many samples of butter, pepper, coffee, Jel-
lies and canned goods for analytical ex-
animation 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.