The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-10-25
VIRULENT POISON.
Meat Men Tell How Used in
Human Food.
Prosecution of "Preserva'ive"Cases al
ST. Paul. DIR. J. w. Andrews Test.
files as Expert.

The Minneapolis Journal of Satur-
day says:
In the case of the state against G. Fl.
Wagenholes, meat dealer, in the NUM-
cipal court yesterday afternoon, expert
witnesses showed how it is possible
to doctor" diseased meats so skill
fully as to deceive the consumer and
induce him to take into his system
that which would ordinarily be most
revolving. The case is one of the many
test cases now being brought by the
state dairy and food commission
against INSCRIPTIONS meat dealers
throughout the state.
The witnesses were G. S. Lilly, and
J. o. Taylor, butchers. Both swore OF
their own knowledge that the meat so
badly decomposed as to have sicken-
ing smell could be completely deodor-
lied by the use of preservatives known
as -Four X'' and "Freezum, into
the composition of which borax
largely entered. While these prepare
tions killed the odor they also destroy
ed the thigh" taste of the meat. Be-
fore the state law was enacted against
the use of preservatives containing
borax, the witnesses testified that it
was common practice among butchers
to treat tainted meat in that way.
Borax is most generally used in pre-
serving sausage.
DR.. Andrews of Mankato gave ex-
pert testimony from the standpoint of
a physician when the case was resum-
ed today. DR.. Andrews declared that
while borax was preventative, it was
entirely lacking in antitoxic proper
ties and was positively injurious to
the human system whether assimilated
in small or large quantities. 1t has a
particularly bad effect on persons trou-
bled with any constitutional weakness
such as a diseased stomach or kidneys,
the tissues of which were confirmed
and generally irritated by borax.
George L. Dingman of the state
dairy and food commission said this
afternoon that the commission would
continue to carry the war into the
enemy's country until the use Of borax
became altogether too expensive a
luxury in the cost of ensuing litiga-
tion. Said he:
"We are using every means to dis
courage the use of these preparations
and so far we have been very success
full. 1 want to say in justice to the
firms whose butchers testified for the
state that their meat departments are
absolutely above reproach and that no
such practices obtain in them. Dur
ing the past week we have examined
between CTS and 700 samples of meat
and sausage from all parts of the state
and we find that percentage of one
in seven has been CLOSED" with some
preparation to kill the odor and taste.
"We have convicted several st.
Paul dealers during the past week and
we expect to make as formidable a
showing in Minneapolis. We are also
prosecuting cases at Two Harbors,
Saltwater, Winona, Red Wing and
Rochester. /"
The present test case in this city
is said to be backed by the, borax COR
poration which derives copsidera BILE
profit from the use of borax in saus-
age.
The most serious aspect of the use
of borax in meats, even slightly faint
ed, is the danger of ptomaine poison
ing The unsuspecting victim has
no means of detecting the poison
which he unwittingly takes into his
stomach.
Retail butchers who make their own
sausage, in some instances, are not
above resorting to the same means, al
though as rule. the larger shops will
not countenance it. This was found
to be the case when a special commits
sioner, unknown to Minneapolis deal
ers, was called in from the country to
make the rounds.
The commission may also turn its
attention shortly to the use of borax
and other preservatives in fresh oysters
sold in bulk