The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-10
They Are AS a Rule
Very Harmful.
Testimony Before Senate Pure
Food Commission.

Chicago, May 10.-Freezine preserva-
tive, Freeze-Em and Laktine are the
things few people know of. but that they
take these adultsrsnts into their stomaohs
was stated by Prof. A. S. Mitchell,
analytical chemist of the Wisconsin dairy
and food commission to the senatorial
committee on pure food Investigation to-
day.
Prof. Mitchell gave the committee some
important information. AS result
Senator Mason has had several manu-
facturers subpoenaed and they will be
called on tomorrow. probably to tell the
committee something about these COM
pounds.
"The use of anti-septics as preserva-
tives," said Prof, Mitchell, "has become
alarming!y great. They are used as color
ing and to stop the development Of germs
In dairy products; also in chopped meats,
bulk oysters, fish, ham and possibly
corned beef"
Prof. Mitchell made the. sworn state
ment that nearly every butcher in Illinois
used preserving liquids on scraps Of meat
which they laid aside for the manufacture
of Hamburger steak and other alleged
delicacies.
The chemist first told Of his test of a
liquid known AS -"Freezine." q Prof.
Mitchell said that the stuff had been used
extensively by farmers to keep milk and
butter, it being the custom to mix it
with the former in small quantities and
pour quarts of it into watts for the pre- SER
vation of butter. -"
"This Freezine,fI have found to be
nothing less tlian almost pure form 10
aldehyde," narrated the expert. This is
q chemical that acts disastrously upon the
tissue of the stomach and can only sur
mise the results when milk diluted with
1t is used constantly by a family. When
butter is placed in watts filled with this
stuff. the porous commodity takes up no
small amount Of the liquid with a result
that can only be conjectured.'
The professor told of his experiments
with fluid sold extensively to butchers
for the purpose of making their Ham,
burger steaks last and keep up healthy
appearance.
"This liquid contains in great per
centage what is known as sulphide of
soda with a complements OF coloring
matter" he continued. SIT is styled
an antiseptic and in certain respects 1s.
This must be borne in mind, however.
arrested, the digestive properties are con-
sequently destroyed"
| DR.. Wiley, the government expert who
examined the antiseptic without going on
| the stand said he identified 1t as practical.
| ly the same chemical which was used
during his experience at a medical college
| to preserve cadavers and was now ooca-
| sionally put to service in disinfecting
houses where small pox patients resided.
| The testimony assumed the form OF
debate as to whether or not the use OF
alum in the manufacture Of baking
powder was injurious to the public
| health. Prof. c. N. S. Hallberg, former
editor of the Western Druggist, and Prof.
Mitchell oombatted the theory that the
| injurious characteristics of alum were de-
stroyed in the process of baking and ex-
pressed the opinion that alum should not
be used as an ingredient unless the public
was aware of the fact by labels on the
cans.
The common basis for the majority of
| jellies manufactured nowadays, accord
| ing to several witnesses are the cores and
parings of apples, utilized after they had
| been evaporated. This substance, it was
claimed, is mixed with glucose In large
quantities, with sugar in small quantities
| and then colored and favored to suit the
outside design on the package.