The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-08

r~ectories'' or kindred humbugs.
PUBLIC SHOULD BE ENLIGHTENED.
According to the Bozeman Chronicle
Professor Traphagen of the %agricult-
ural college is conducting a series of
analyses of food stufs manufactured
in the east and sold in this state The
results so far have been startling, the
samples submitted to the test having
been found to contain various sub
stances highly deleterious to the hui
man system if used as food adu1ter-
ants.
Among the articles analysed were
ketchups, jams, jellies anil other pre-
served goods. Form them he obtained
sufficient coal tar dyes to dye in brill
liant hues a dozen or more squares of
cloth, which he has on exhibition in
the college laboratory. In addition
he also obtained considerable quanti-
ties Of salasylic acid which had been
employed to, prevent fermentation,
while the dyes; were employed to. give
strong and natural. colors to the con-
tents of the packages. OF all the
goods tested by him in not a single
instance was a package found that was
absolutely pure and free from poison
u or injurious substances.
The samples were purchased of reg
ular dealers in the open market and
without regard to the names of the
makers. Hence it must be assumed
that the analyses were ii fair test of
the stuffs sold to the people for food.
Professor T%raphagen' is still continu-
ing the tests and piling up further
evidence showing the necessity for the
prompt enactment by the legislature
of state laws against the adulteration
of food. Meanwhile, perhaps, it
would not be asking too much to insist
t1IdC liz S1NC tHS lCoplC so1AC bCIClS VI
those tests by making known in the
most public manner the names of the
makers of the goods he finds to be
adulterated and dangerous,to the con-
sumers. In this ann he would be-
doing the people good service by ena-
bling them to be on their guard and to
protect themselves against the frauds
which are slowly, but surely destroy
ing their health. His standing. as, one
of the teachers in a state institution
Of learning would be proof Of the
truth of his charges and Interpolation
as a chemist and man. Of knowledge
would be proof of the. correctness Of
his analyses. He could do this with
out fear, for the results obtained from
the tests would be such, evidence that
none of the manufacturers Of the
adulterated articles would have the
temerity to go into court and insti-
tute damage or other action against
| him.
On further thought it occurs that
it is really the duty of the gentleman
to do this. He is an employee Of the
state and is paid from, a fund to which
all contribute, consequently it seems
that the people have a right to expect
this much from him, even though the
salary which he receives is for the per.
Torrance of some other function. The
experiments he is conducting are in.
teresting and no doubt of value to the
students, as they enter into u part OF
the schools currieulum, but so far al
being resultant of general good they
might as we'll be left .untried. Ir
teaching analytical chemistry it il
necessary to have articles to be ana
USED and if they happen to be fooc
stuffs the results of the analyses, if o,
the nature of those under considera
ton, should be made public. Thu
professor knows what brands are dan
gerous, but the people do not and the,
should be enlightened.
"a. Willy RUSSIA.
While all the time trying to con
~ciliate China, Russia is keeping an ey'
on the main chance. It continues il
it's b%eneficent work of assisting tn
fallen Mongol at the expense to tn
latter of a RoodlY slice of his territory