The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-11
MN EATING
POISONED FOOD
Unusual Pr visions in the
Present Government Test.
ONE CAPSULE ALL RIGHT
1t Contains No Preservative,
and Is Kept Secret.
ONE CAPSULE ALL RIGHT

Prom the New York Herald
Uncle Sans poison eaters at Wash
ington have begun work There are
twenty-four of them. and. as prelirnin-
ary. they were dieted and fattened by
Or. w. II Wiley. the government chem
fst in charge, so that they might be in
perfectly normal condition at the outset
end in order to ascertain precisely the
(~heaith weight Of each man Thus
any change that may occur in pulse. tenn
perasure. appetite or general physical
condition may be reasonably supposed to
be due TO the poison consumed
The poisons are not mixed with the
food. as has been wrongly reported on
the contrary, the articles of diet in all
cases are perfectly pure-much more so,
IN fact, than those consumed by ordinary
folk at their tables. The acids and other
harmful substances are administered sep
arateiy. Each man, when he sits down
at table, finds alongside Of his plate a
gelatine capsule which holds the poison.
He swallows il at q gulp, and then is at
liberty to consume the appetizing meal
placed before him
Only twelve OF the twenty-four young
men employed in the tests are kept IN
der observation at any one time, and but
six OF these eat the poisons. That Is
tie say, there are two tables, at each Of
which sit half a dozen boarders. Those
at one OF the tables eat only pure food;
those at the other have the capsules in
addition. Things are so managed that
the boarders take turns in poison eating
IN squads OF six One squad has cap
sules three times a day for ten days, and
then goes TO the plain food table. being
succeeded by q fresh squad.
Thus there are four squads-one squad
AZ the observation table where the
poisens are served; another squad at the
relaxation table" where the get only
plain food. and two squads which are
OF duty entirely Breakfast is at a. m.
lunch at L noon. and dinner at $50 p. m.
The bearders are expected TO be absolute
ly punctual. A waiter and cook, both
colored, were obtained by application to
the civil service commission.
The boarders are well fed. For ilIustra- /
ton. the following meng was for Monday /
Of this week:
Breakfast.
Goldfish balls.
Boston Baked Beans.
French fried potatoes.
Coffee. Bread and butter Milk
Luncheon.
Rice Soup.
Apple Pie.
Milk Bread and butter. Tea
Dinner.
Smothered chicken
Peas.
Celery on toast.
Brown sweet potatoes.
coffee Bread and butter MIX.
Exactly speaking, only five Of the six
men at the poison table get anything in
furious with their meals. Each Of them
receives a capsule three times day, but
one OF the capsules contains nothing more
harmful than sugar or a little starch, per-
hsps. Dr. wileys idea being that none
OF the boarders shall know that he is
actually swallowing poison. If he knew Il
acquaintance with the fact might affect
his health through his imagination, but
under the arrangement described he has
In mind the fact that there is one chance
out OF SIX that he is taking nothing that
f. not good for him. It is merely an ad-
d.tional precaution for rendering the tests
accurate and reliable.
The dining room. which is in the Bureau
OF Chemistry. is most cheerful. All of
the crockery and tableware is brand new.
even 70 the napkin rings. which are
marked with numbers from I to u
Down stairs is kitchen which has been
specially fitted up for the purpose. with a
gas range and all modern sanitary i'm
provements. The culinary utensils are all
new. As for the food. nothing that has
been compounded outside is administered.
and even the butter is manufactured from
fresh cream on the premises
The twenty-four young men are en-
pioyes OF the Department % Agriculture
ana continue their ordinary work during
the progress OF the experiments. They
we're picked for physical perfection. no
candidate being accepted who suffered
from any organic disease. AT Ghe begin
niug they were stripped and weighed. ard
every morning they have 70 go through
thu same ceremony before breakfast.
when. as Dr.. Wiley says. they are
enptiest. They are allowed TO use to-
oacco. but no alcohol
Some OF them entered upon the test
through scientific enthusiasm doubtless.
while others thought il was good
chance TO save money by settiRs their
board free from Uncle Sam. They are
al bachelors.
TIE experiments VIII last for six
months. so that It viii be Vel worth
their while financially. even though they e,
should suffer from stomach aches and
other mild, bodily disturbances now and
then. Or. Wiley guarantees that none
OF them shall be made seriously Ill. and.
being himself a physician. he VIII treat
his victims free Of charge
Each OF the accepted candidates was
obliged % sign a document which read as
fellows:
We. the undersigned. hereby agree .
take our meals for period OF Al least
tn the bureau OF chemistry. for the pur-
psee of ascertaining the effects OF certain
preserving substances commonly used II
fooc upon digestion. We agree 70 follow
the rules and regulations prescribed fer
this experimental study. and during the
period during which the study is CON-
urued we viii promise 70 take TO food
Of any description except that which is
provided at the table mentioned
The experiments have been begun with
borax and salicylic acid. which are large
~ used as preservatives. Fo-maliRs sui
the SUPPLIES are also employed in canned
ard other feeds. both liquid and solid. BIZ
suiphste OF potash is = frequent ingredi-
ent Of beer. being put Up II tablets Tor
bale to brewers. This is TO be tried upon {
the boarders, ard also boric acid aud ?
benzoic acid. which are popular preserv- :
atives- :
Salts Of copper and zinc are utilized for :