The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-13
POISON.EATERS AT IT AGAIN.
SALECYLIC ACID WILL BE PART
or THEIR DIET.

Experiments Begun to Determine the
Effects OF tho Acid on the Human
Systenl-Other Chemical Food Pre-
servatives In General Use to he Tested
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12-The squad OF
Government .poison-eaters," which was
disbanded last spring after eight months
on "doped diet, and recently reorganized
by Prof. Wiley, Chief of the Bureau OF
Chemistry Of the Agricultural Department.
sat down this morning to an adulterated
breakfast and for the next eight months
will try to determine. by practical expert
ence, just what saicylic acid will do to the
human system. The members OF the squad
will take capsules OF the acid, which 10 in
general use as milk and meat and general
food preventative, three times day with
their meals until something happens.
The former experiments were with borax,
and constant diet Of this chemical didn't
seem to bother the poson-eaters bit.
They all finished in the best Of condition
Prof Wiley's chief trouble was to keep them
from getting fat. Some Of the poison
eaters believe that borax is an excellent
tonic, and ever since tho close Of the ex-
perminents have used 1t for everything
from shampoo to q cure Tor stomach
ache.
Prof. Wiley's report containing the re-
suits of the experiments with borax Is now
in course OF preparation and will be
made public before long. The conclusions
reached by the professor are eagerly awaited
by meat packers, manufacturers OF food
products and by tho general public.
The experiments with salicylic acid will
! be moro carefully conducted than the for
mer tests. principally out OF regard for the
poison eaters, as the chemical is known
In general way to act as deterrent on
the digestive apparatus But just how
it works and just what it will do when a
fair test is given are not specifically known.
and that is just what Prof. Wiley is trying
| TO discover. He thinks he will. too, II his
squad Of twelve holds out.
The majority of the squad who sat down
to breakfast are new recruits with untried
stomachs and unadulterated enthusiasm.
Several members OF last years squad got
married during the summer months and
one or two mora are thinking seriously
Of the came step. As Prof. Wiley gloomily
remarked when informed Of their plans:
They'll find that soup La borax and
salicylio sauterne are in class by them
selves compared to things alleged to be
like mother used TO make. Then they Il
wish they were back on doped diet. See
II they don't
Each member Of the squad that sat down
to breakfast this morning found an innocent
looking capsule beside his plate. Prof.
Wiley trusts to the honor OF his poison
eaters, OF course, but he alSo sits at the head
Of the table, and when he taps the table
with the carving knife, just after finishing
grace, the capsules all 60 down in q hurry,
with a mouthful OF water on top, Just as
| an appetizer Prof. Wiley remarked this
morning to the new members Of the squad.
| The professors appetite Ia always ex-
cellent. and, therefore. he never takes q
capsule. -.
The experiments will continue for about
eight months and other chemical pre-
servatives in general use by manufacturers
will be tried during that period. Salicylc
acid, however. from the fact that it is in
| common use everywhere, was selected as the
| first to be tested. and the results Of the ex-
periments in It's use as steady diet are
expected to prove Of the greatest interss,
and value.