The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-14


Stanley ]. Stevens, of Harrisburg, an
inspector attached to the office of the
state food and dairy commissioner,
produced sort Of lyddite shell en-
rlosion among the milk dealers of the
town yesterday afternoon when he ar
rested three of them, Mulholland Bros.
of Park Place: Frank G. Mum, of the
Palace creamery, and Henry Wade
man, of Greenfield township, who dis
tributes milk over route in this city.
The trio were charged with selling
milk that contained a chemical pre-
servative, in viola tiOn Of the state pure
food law Formaldehyde is the Chem-
cal which was found in the milk. It's
presence was located by Professor AL
bert II. Welles. of the faculty of the
Scranton High school, the instructor in
physics and chemistry at that institu-
tion. Professor Wcllcs is tho chemist
for the food and dairy commission for
this district, and il was from analyses
Of the samples of the milk submitted
by Inspector stevens that the presence
Of the delcterious and harmful pre-
servative was detected.
Mr.. Welles was present at the hear
ings, which took place yesterday after
noon before Alderman Morrison, and
submitted his findings, which formed
the basis Of the cases against the ac-
Cused milkmen The three defendants
plead guilty when ARA igncd They
disclaimed all knowledge of the pres
ence of the formaldehydc and asserted
that If the chemical was detected in
any OF their products it was not due 10
their agency. but must have been
placed in the milk by the parties who
supplied them.
Alderman Morrison believed a case
had been established against the de-
PENDANTS and he directed them to fur
nish bonds in the sum of 5000 each for
their appearance at court, which they
did
The crusade, or investigation, which
had its climax in yesterdays proceed
ings was commenced on August >,
when state Inspector Stevens came 10
town and somewhat surprised Secre.
tary George Evans, of the board of
health, that he was here for the pur-
pose Of procuring samples of milk
from all Of the dealers of the town,
TO have them analyzed.
Mr.. stevens, Secretary Evans and
Sanitary Policeman Moffitt visited all
of the milk depots in town and pro-
cured samples, also from the dealers
who supply customers throughout the
city. hut who are not located here. The
samples We're sealed and marked and
taken away by the Inspector who pre-.
sented them 10 Professor Welles for
analysis. There are sixteen samples in
all, two being procured from Mulhol,
land Bros, and Frank e. Mum.
h1 IL 49, 81 l,r, 1, 4 A.
presence of formaldehyde. and wher
Inspector Stevens was acquainted with
this. he placed the information befor,
Alderman Morrison and caused war
rants 10 he sworn out for the partie!
referred TO.
In the samples Of the other dealers
thirteen in number the analyses die
not reveal the presence of any chem
Gals. The purpose of the use of for
madehyde is to preserve the mill
without the use of ice, thus avoidnl
this item of expense and averting tn
risk Of the milk souring, Formalde
hyde is an acceptable substitute TO
ice. from the mercenary dairyman'
standpoint, but it has baneful effec
on the digestion of the luckless chill
dren, infants particularly, who hav
to drink the mix wherein il is made 4
do service, 1t retards the digestion o
milk, which, being delayed in the stom
ach, causes gastric uneasiness and /
prone to upset and disarrange the deli
cate organs Of digestion, thus givin
rise to infantile complaints. Tornado
hyde is what is employed by the boar
OF heath in fumigating houses durin
and after the presence of contagiou
diseases.
The action of the state inspector wa