Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-09-11
PROTECT MILK SUPPLY
PRESERvATIyE DRUGS
ARE AGAINST The LAW
CHOLERA BAD IN JAPAk-ANoTH'
Err DOCTOR ARRivEs-Ko.
kuA PETITION TURN.
ED DOWN.

The Board OF Health transacted rou-
tine business at its weekly meeting yes
terday. being thus constituted: DIR. n.
c. sloggett, president; ID. p. Il. lsen-
berg, DIR. w. l.. Moore, DR.. c. u.
Cooper, Attorney General Il. p. Dole,
r. A. Mott-Smith, and Fred c. Smith.
Officers in attendance were: DR.. J. s.
i. Pratt, executive officer; c. Charlock.
secretary; J. d. McVeigh. superintend-
ent of leper settlement, and c. II. Tracy
city sanitary officer.
DR.. G. i. de Farla was reported on 4
favorably for license by the medical 1
examiners and his name was recon-
mended TO the Treasurer therefor.
G. Carlson was denied permission to
go to the leper settlement as a koRna. /
The committee on the adulteration
OF milk with formalin submitted the ,
| following letter from the Food Com /.
missioner:
Honolulu, II. T., Sept. 10, 1902.
Drs. II. c. Sloggett and W. l.. Moore.
/ SiIs:-ln reply to request for fur
ther information regarding the use OF
formalin as a milk preservative | sub
nit the following:
Formalin is trade name for 10
per cent solution Of formgldehyde in
water. Weaker solutions are sold UNI
der various names for use in preserving
articles OF food.
A very small amount Of formalin is
effective in preserving milk or prevent
ing its souring. About eight grains
per gallon will usually keep milk sweet
for week
The methods OF estimating fOrmalin
when present in such small quantities
are not very reliable and are at best
approximate. ! have not attempted
J to estimate the amount present in the
milk reported. but have no reason TO
think II was present much in excess OF
! that required to preserve II for few
days.
: As Is well known n strong solution
or its vapor, is one Of the most effec-
tive disinfectants known, and is large
: ly relied on In sanitary work for this
purpose. In to per cent solution II
= forms an efficient preventative for
: pathological and biological specimens
: and is in common use in museums for
for this purpose.
Chemically one OF the distinguishing
properties OF formaldehyde is that o!
forming an insoluble compound with
albumen and related/bodies. A small
amount added to solution of gelatine,
|, not only renders the gelatin insoluble
but almost indestructible, and with
: out doubt the efficiency of formalin as
a disinfectant. Is due to the combina-
ton of the formaldehyde with the pro-
toplasm OF micro organisms resulting
In the destruction Of life. II is easily
seen that IL sufficient formalin Is add
ed to destroy the heterogeneous
present and prevent souring, there will
also be combination with some OF ths
: glbumen OF the milk, rendering II less
: digestible, and II the milk Is INTRODUCE
ed into the stomach there will be pos
sible combination with the albumen OF
the fluids OF the body.
II is quite likely that in the case OF a
=, healthy adult the harm resulting from
the use of milk containing small
quantity OF formaln would be small or
. none at all; but in the case of a weak OF
y sickly child depending altogether on
milk there can be no question as to the
, injurious effect. I have no personal
y knowledge of. anyone having been in
= iured in health by the use of formalin
" in food but the same could be said OF
y, a number of substances which arc
!, generally recognized as poisons; and
:, think II but right to draw reason
y able conclusion from the known prop
y. critics of the substance in the one case
=, as In the other.
II the Board OF Health has the power
y, TO make regulation matter which
=, is menace to the health OF a portion
!, of the community however small,
" think the sale of milk containing for
+. malin should be prohibited.
, Respectfully,
. EDMUND C. SHOREY,
:, Food Commissioner
a Mr.. Dole, on the question of action
! on the fact, quoted the pure food law
" showing that 1t covered the case. The
b, letter was accordingly filed and mo-
ton carried authorizing the Food
Commissioner to prosecute any Of
tenders In the line reported.
- Reports OF the city sanitary officer
l. and inspectors were read and accepted
n E. S, Bone, inspector at Hilo, reported
J. 6O4 inspections with corresponding
IS data.
e DR.. G. e. Cofer, chief quarantine
i officer, reported health conditions In
n.tx-a -. tnlinu,g. VnLnbapna o.