The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-23

came tainted the result was due to bad
handling or neglect in tropical climate.
There has not been the slightest evidence to
sustain the charge of "emhalmed beef or
the use of chemicals so far as canned beef
is concerned. As for refrigerator beef which
the commission is now investigating, the
case is different There seems to be evil
dence that this beef was artincialiy treated
to prevent decomposition. On the 20th Of
December last the commission gave out
statement of Mai w. II. Daily chief sur
geon at Tampa. addressed to the assistant
adjutant general of the army, under date of
Sept. q, in which he said:
While on duty at the headquarters of the
army AT tampa at the time of the en-
barkation of the "Shafter expedition" Col.
weston, chief commiSsaTy. showed me
quarter OF beef that had already as a test
been sixty hours in the sun without being
perceptiby tainted so far as the sense of
smell could detect. 1t is impossible to keep
fresh beef so long untainted in the sun IN
that climate without the use of deleteriOus
preserVatlVes, such as horic acid, salicylic
ACID or nitrate of potash injected into 1t in
quantities likely to be hurtful TO the health
OF the consumer. AT Ponce, Porto Rico,
much of the beef / examined arriving on the
transports from the United States was also
of the same character, being apparently
preserved by injected chemicals to aid in
efficient cold storage. Where efficient cold
storage is impossible transporting beef alive
IS the method that should receive the full
est consideration by the government as be-
ing safest for the health Of the consumer.
When detailed to take charge of the
cents to the United States I obtained 2G09
pounds of fresh beef from the commissary
at Ponce. 1t looked we'll, but had an odor
similar to that of a dead human body after
being injected with personalities, and
tasted when first cooked. like decomposed
boric acid. while after standing a day for
further inspection it became so bitter,
nauSeous and unpalatable as to be quite i'm
possible for use. | was, therefore, obliged
owing TO its condition and the just COM
plants of the sick about it, and the dis
gustlnSly sickening odor it emitted when
being cooked, and the safety of the patients
(255 convalescent patients being on board.
to organize board of survey, condemn and
throw l.5O9 pounds, All we had, overheard.
Believing that the commissary de-
2artment has been imposed on by the mis-
directed commercial spirit of persons fur
nlshing fresh beef, respectfully recon-
mend that the matter be investigated by
experts making quantitiVe, qualitative
chemical analyses of the several preSerya-
tives suspected to be used in getting sam
pies of beef furnished for export to Cuba
and Porto Rico.
A statement of that kind should have been
investigated although it looks a little like
an attempt to bolster up General Miless
theory in favor of furnishing native beef to
the troops in Porto Rico. The evidence clio
tied during the last few days tends to show
that boracic and salicylc acids were used
in preparing the meat for shipment. These
chemicals in moderate quantities, are not
injurious, though their use in army food
is not defensible The whole investigation
receives a more sordid aspect from the fact
that it now seems to turn on the point
whether the government shall pay for 100000
pounds of refrigerator beef ordered of a
Chicago firm and rejected by General Miles
at Ponce Porto Rico, and subsequently
have become a subject of public investiga-
tion