Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-09-19

1t has been learned that the analyz
ing OF milk by the chemists at the
State laboratory at Delaware College
is the beginning OF work which may
result in the passage of pure food lepis-
lation by the General Assembly OF the
State. Indeed that is the object Of the
project which IL now under way. Pure
food legislation has long been adyo-
Gated, but heretofore the movement has
not succeeded, for various reasons. 1t
is now proposed to ascertain whether
there are impurities IN the food pro-
ducts sold in the State ard IL I'LL
learned that impurities do exist de-
termined effort will be made to get the
General Assembly to take the matter
up and adopt such measures as will
guard against the evils to which sus-
pioion has pointed for some time.
In conversation with a reporter of
The Gazette, Prof. f. ID. Chester,
who is in charge of the State labors-
tory, gave some valuable information.
After outlining the object of the work,
as stated above, he said it had been
iecided to analyze milk first, in order
to ascertain the character of the fluid
sold. The start was made in Whining
ION, but the entire State is to receive
attention. After the milk tests in
Wilmington have been completed sam
pies will he procured from dealers In
towns down the State and analysed in
q similar manner with the same object
IN view. 1t is intended to treat every
section of the State alike.
About 40 samples have been collected
~ Wilmington and the analyses show
that about GO per cent OF the sampled
were below the standard usuallvN
adopted in most cities for milk; thatl
is, OF IL per cent total solids and 8 PERI
cent fat. He explained that IL milk III
below that standard it indicates that itt
has been watered or SKINNED, or both. I
Some samples indicated nearly one-halfp
was water. No reflection is intendedl
upon the local milk inspection system, II
he stated, "as We have found the sane4
condition as the inspector has found.S
The only difficulty is that 10 WilmingN
ton the penalty for adulteration is notA
heavy enough. Legislation should bex
enacted imposing such penalty ash
would make the dealers afraid to adult
terate or doctor the milk -
All samples, he said were tested forf
formaldehyde and about 70 per ceptk
were found to contain it. 1t was learned
that some of the dealers were usinpx
another preparation for the preserva4
tion OF milk, but when this prepar 4
tion was analysed it was found to be AZ
dilute solution of formaldehyde. H&
agreed with many other authorities onf
the subject that formaldehyde is in 4
furious to the human system. Take1N
In large doses, he said, it is raold
poison, and in small quantities, suchl
as is used by some of the milk dealersF!
1T also has an i'll effect. 1t interfereA
with digestion and long continued usell
VIII upset the digestion very materinlly.t
After the work of Analysing milk iat
completed other food products will bee
put through the same process, Candy
VIII probably come in for consideration /
next, to ascertain whether any candies
are manufactured or sold in the Stats
which contain impurities. Other arti.
cies OF food will also receive attention, y
and when the work ia completed the
State Hoard Of Health, which is in
accord with the present movement, will
be fully advised of the result, in n i
complete report, and the matter villa
be left with that body to take suchk
action US it sees fit. Il
Prof. Chester is assisted at the Stated
laboratory by DIR. A. Robin, the State
baoteriologist, who looks after the work h
OF the physicians Herbert X. Watson, (
IT,, OF this city has also enter thee
laboratory as an assistant last Nom li
day. He succeeds. lIorsey p. Brown
VINO resigned recently to take anotheaz
position. pc
In regard to the analysis OF milk byll,ll
the Stats laboratory, Milk InspectorsS,I
Walter A, MoEvilly of this city feelsIt
that the work will be highly beneficial.st
and he hopes to be aEle to demonstrataah
TO City Council the necessity of takingelll
such action as will make the work Off
his department more effective. Ashr.
stated above, the penalties for yiolaT =
tions are light, and the lack of stringent c
laws on the subject has handicapped o
him very materially. III
lit