The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-22
DR.. SENN N COURT
Thinks Canned Roast Decid-
eddy Inferior Meat
RECOMMENDS DRIED BEEF
No Evidence of Chemicals
Colonel CorIiss IeStihes.
RECOMMENDS DRIED BEEF

Witnesses WIKI EE-ELE-4NE ~ - 49, - 49,
tion-Dr. Nicholas Sem and Lieutenant
Colonel \. a. Corliss. Dr. Sem entirely
disapproved Of canned roast beef as an
army ration for any length Of time. and
Colonel Coruss told Of the soldiers dis
ike Of il. The court will hold an all-day
session tomorrow, and VIII leave for New
York tomorrow evening or Thursday
morning. The remaining witnesses viii
be those suggested by Major Lee n behalf
OF Major General Miles.
Dr.. Nicholas Sem OF Chicago, who serv-
ed n Cuba and Porto Rico, testified that
the troops in Cuba lived largely on can
ned roast beef and bacon He had every
reason 10 believe that the canned beef
was not roasted but boiled. Il was taste
less and certainly appeared TO lack nutri-
tious qualities, as was apparent from the
condition Of the men who returned from
Cuba 10 Montauk-men who had never
been I'll but were greatly emaciated- He
believed that the meat was over-dOne-
that there was some fault in the process
OF preparation-that the process had not
bean perfected. The bacon was OF good
quality. He could say nothing about re-
frigerator beef, because ne did not see
anv Of it in Cuba or Porto Rico. He made
no formal inspection OF the canned roast
beef but had eaten some Of il, and his
statements were based on his own expert
ence. He thought one Of the meat sup
plies OF the future for the army should
be dried beef Men could be fed once or
twice a wee kon canned roast beef with
out any I'll feet on their health. but as q
daily ration for any length OF time he
would not consider II a safe or desirable
ration. When the packers learned how
70 make real roast beef he thought It
would be an excellent thing. but not as
exclusive diet.
IN reply 70 General Davis the witness
stated that he saw no evidences of the
He had heard Of cases Of ptomaine intoxi-
cation but did not see any. Ptomaines
would not develop If the meat were thor
oughly stertlized and properly sealed.
When opened the meat should KEEP twenty
four hours Il would not be safe 10 eat It
after that time. In answer TO questions
Of Colonel Gillespie. the witness stated
that he really could not say whether the
fresh meat he ate in Porto Rico was re-
frigerator meat or native. He thought Il
was the latter. The mea was wholesome
and paiatable.
General A. ". Coriss. who was attach
ed TO the Seventh infantry IN Cuba testi-
fed that he was shot on the first Of July
and knew nothing of the conditions there
after up TO that time" he said. I'VE
got a good deal OF canned corned beef
and canned roast beef, also bacon in small
quantities. Complaints were received
about the canned roast beef: II was dis
liked very much. The officers and men
had the same ration. We tried to eat
the canned roast beef. and did eat II. but
in order 20 Do 50 We had 70 mix II I'D
with bareback and fry It. We tried 70 eat
# plain. but could not: It made US sick,
gave US bowel trouble"
Major Lee did not cross examine the
witness. and the court had no questions
to ask The court adjourned until 70
o'cIocktomorrow morning.
Chicago. March 20-The principal wit
mass on the LIST 70 appear before the court
~ inquiry today. Dr.. Nicholas Sem. was
unable 70 BE- in the city. whereupon the
?
morrow evening. when DR.. Sem win be
heard. During its short session today
the court received the evidence OF four
witnesses who had been called upon re-
quest of Major Lee. the representative OF
General Miles According 70 the testi-
mOry the canned beef was always unpala-
table and distastefu1 and in their judg-
ment i was a co1triou-ory cause =
sickness among the soldiers and unfit for
any army ration. Critical reference %
the refrigerated beef was also made by
witness. II seams probable that the court
viii be able 70 terminate It's Chicago
work in time 20 leave Wednesday even
ing FOR New York.
The first witness examined was Colonel
y Jack Foster. Of the Sixth Illinois in
faut-y. He testified that az Ponce he
drew refrigerated beef once When The
meat reached camp Il was pronounced
bad and q board OF inquiry condemned Z
and Il was buried. He did not ~ it again
The regiment was about six i-ss sr5m
the .or-
Captain Edward J. Dimu'ck - the
First Illinois testified that some ~ TIE
canned roast beef ha saw vas spoiled and
was thrown overheard on the voyage %
Cuba After the surrender Of Santiago
refrigerated beef was issued The -eEi-
Z
one I1- was buried as soon a. un.o4deE
and this occurred N TWO other occasions.
He though. tre condition q the meat was
due 20 failure 20 receive l. promptly
About . per cent received had 90 20
buried ard about . per cent - the roast
had % 1e cu- r and thrown away Some
n The me- thought rlsy discovered a
-.-~--z- door tu- there were no Sus-
-ie--- that tie meat had ben chemically
treated. on the voyage home canned
--s-- beef was issued out Tie men would
rl- touch b.
cone day A. Santiago witness said
"I went into q restaurant ard met E=n-
tIe-a- n citizens clothes w15 made
himself known % ne as Swst-s re7cesen-
-s--vl E= said BIZ vas .n .raln3e- be
had Just zo- cargo II beef u ard IL
ze-ate- plant had stopped Re sad
b. was C-nE 20 General Shsfrer e go
mat hzee accented I tod 1iu I -1r1ghr
POOR beef CaUz 20 our camp i1Ta-ias s..
S-- he satE j. wzs uc- poor beef, simply
& scc.o-=5 c- the outside. and oy c---
-irz away The E-sc1ior=c parts -he -
SIDE vrl5 b= found perfectly god
vas i- General IS -o1 1szaa -a-fz-s an
-51- later and saw bin taers Waiting tcr
an z--a-vteu E.-1 General Skater.
did 1.- -zsr-. z-e-5zr'l= --ccae5ei iu get
-5-z -aa- r=se accepted ~ 11r hg- : ~
5a-S-ool from outside parties tAa- ta=y
-r-aw -ye--ca-d several -C-s q * and
a---p-et Cha b4-arcs-
MAJOR Lee WAT e@sr- 2 a--. d.s
me earned rozs- besf nave Upon ne
bez--1 ~ the men
The 1ses zaEzear@5 2 Ersat many -
-le -an. Z sr2 satisfied lL4- = caused
was s=s-s suy sazys=,aa .aas ls was