New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-14
ANALYSES OF ARMY BEEF.
CONTRADICTORY TESTIMONY GIVEN BY
TWO CHEMISTS.
DIR. BIGELow SAYS CANNED ROAST BEEF
Is WHOLESOME AND NUTRITIOUS
PROFESSOR MALLET TAKES

X.
IS WHOLESOME AND NUTRITIOUS
PROFESSOR MALLET TAKES
AN OPPOSITE VIEW.
Washington April 1a-Dr. W. ID. Bigelow. chem
ist of the Agricultural Department. told the Beer
Court of Inquiry to-day that the canned roast beer
was wholesome and nutritious product-even
more nutritious than fresh beef, because OF the
preponderance Of rroteids. He also gave the de-
tails Of his general investigation into the canned
beef supply showing the meat to be a generally
satisfactory ration. John w. Mallet professor OF
chemistry ut the University OF Virginia. presented
a contrary view He expressed the opinion that
chemical analysis was not sufrcent test oi '"e
character OF a food product, saying that various
conditions necessarily must he considered lie ulo
not regard the canned roast beef as desiraoie
ration. Rudolph X. Spicer, an undertaken, OF mar
risburg Penn said he had discovered crystalline
salts on the refrigerated beef In Porto Rico which
reminded him OF powders used In embalmlg.
The official report OF DR.. Bigelow. who was Sc
ected to make an investigation Of the cameo roast
beef was submitted. DR.. Bigelow visited chicago
Ksrsas City ard Omaha with the Court. ana ne
gave the result Of his observations Of and expert
ments on various samples Of beef used by the pack
uy-houses in canning. He had been present wnen
beef was selected for canning and he presented
numerous tables giving the results OF his invest'-
cations.
Describing the mode of preparing the canned
roast beef Dr. Bigelow said that It was generally
parboiled from eight to twenty minutes before be
ing placed in the cans, and afterward was steamed
for several hours. with the meat was generally
placed a quantity OF soup liquor and often salt and
gelatine.
MORE NUTRITIOUS THAN FRESH BEEF.
As TO the food value OF the beef DR. Bigelow said
he could speak only from theoretical point OF
view. He had found this beef TO contain more
protein than the quantity OF fresh beer thirty
ounces OF the canned beef being equivalent in this
respect to $50 ounces OF fresh beef. On the other
hand there was slight reduction OF calorifc power
and cumulative qualities Considering that food
for the muscles the great desderatum In the
tropics he thought the canned beef would be
most appropriate food 1t should be used. how
ever in connection with native fruits. rice or poa-
toes to supply starch and IT would be well to add
beef extract for stimulation.
DR.. Bigelow questioned by Colonel Davis at
length with the view OF counteracting the effect OF
the testimony of Drs. Brady, Currie. Castle ana
others who had declared that chemicals had been
used in the preservation of the meat supplied to
the Army The witness said he had examined both
the refrigerated and canned roast beef, and mad
found evidence OF the use OF preservatlVes IN
either. In reply to question detailing the expert
ment made by DR.. Currie for boracic acid DR.
Bigelow said that the result reported by Dr. Currie
would indicate the absence, and not the presence OF
this acid He had never known OF boracic and
salicycic acids being used together. and II they
should be used on food product the taste would
be so bitter that IT would soon be detected. He
introduced some specimens OF fresh beef which had
been treated with salicyc acid and then to
mixture Of the two acids. The first result in each
case was to cause the meat to assume light
pinkish tinge. but after about twelve hours 1t re-
sumed practically its normal appearance. There
would be odor. He said he had never known
formaldehyde to be used preservative OF meat.
but that 1t was powerful germicide.
At the afternoon session DR.. Bigelow was cross
examined by Major Lee. He said he had made ex-
periments to show that combination OF boracic
acid and sallcyllc acid would be bitter. while
considered beef extract stimulant rather than
nutritive The meat left after Its extraction ne
left. Whether. however. II would be paatable
mse PC ProbaSy H would SS not be- an ideal food
He said that AL the meat canned In his presence
Information on was that the beef Of the poorest cattle
preferable to bacon as a food for the soldier.
Major Lee reminded him that the soldiers always
manifested preference for bacon.
"A man does not always choose the food that Is
hest for HIM was the reply b SH mans choice
circumstances He did not consider that the boil
pr Bgelow said he had heard through the news
that horsenesh had beep used in the prepa
TO ascertain that such reports were true
PROFESSOR WALLETS TESTIMONY.
Professor Mallet was next examined at General
Milos's instance. He expressed the opinion that no
by a chemical analysis alone could determine
whether food wholesome unwholesome nor
would ordinary analysis determine whether II
was horsemeat or beef. True. chemical analysis
determines certain limitations possibilities OF
food products. but It does not definitely determine
the food value OF given article. combination
OF horsehesh, tallow and carpenters glue might
give practically the same results those reported
from the eXamination OF the canned roast beef.
necessary consider its digestibity capacity for
absorption and adaptability to chemical changes
and also. secondarily its Availability. II was also
necessary to know the possibility Of the Injurious
effects OF any article OF food on the body. Con-
sidering all these circumstances. Professor Malet
did not believe the canned beef supplied TO the
Army was proper article OF food. He said that
the experiment had been made of feeding TO hogs
the residue of beef after extract had been made
from II, which had rsulted in the practical starva
ton Of the hogs.
Major Lee asked Professor Mallet what inference
he would draw from Professor Chittenden's state
ment that there had been absence Of phosphoric
acid in six Of the beef samples analysed by him
and replied that he did not see how II was possible
to escape the conclusion that a large part OF the
nutrtive matter had been cooked out Of H.