Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1905-03-31
HUMAN TEST-TUBES.
WILEY. GOVERNMENT CHEMIST,
CONTINUES HIS WORK.

WILEY. GOVERNMENT CHEMIST,
CONTINUES HIS WORK.
Having Considered the Matter Of Preservative,
Of Meat and Vegetables on the Human Sys.
tenn. the Glass for Investigation Are Now
to Be Used for a Steady Diet Of Jams, Mar
malades, Jeilies. Wines. Etc., That Have Been
Dosed With Coal Tar Dyes and Substitute,
for Sugar.
Professor Wiley's poison squad, in
the Department of Agriculture, will be
put to work again on April l, after a
rest of three months, when the govern.
ment will continue its experiments
with preservatives and coloring matter
in food. After long period Of feast.
ing on roast beef, steaks and other
meats preserved with salicylic and bor-
acic acid, with side dishes OF canned
vegetables doctored with sulphate OF
copper and like compounds, the gov.
ernment boarders" are to be treated to
steady diet of jams, marmalades,
jellies, wines, elders and syrups that
have been dossd with coal tar dyes and
substitutes for sugar.
Professor Wiley, the chief chemist
OF the Department of Agriculture, who
has been conducting these novel food
tests for the past two years, has had to
organize a brand new class for his
coming experiments. OF the twelve
hale and hearty young men who vol.
unteered to sacrifice their digestive
apparatus in the interest of science
when the government first undertook
this work, only one remains. Three
or four got married and are now trying
the effects OF home made pies and bis
cults. A couple were promoted in SAL
ary and can afford to buy their own
meals. OF the rest all but one quit,
deciding that his own health was OF
more Importance to them than all the
scientific deductions that Professor
Wiley might have after observing the
results Of eating embalmed beef and
artifcially colored vegetables. The
sole survivor possesses a stomach like
an ostrich and has baffled all Professor
Wiley's attempts to prepare concoc.
ton that will knock him out.
No difficulty was experienced in get
ting Q new batch of hardy and needy
men to start the third test. There are
plenty of poorly paid clerks in the De.
partment of Agriculture who are will.
ing to undergo temporary inconven.
fences, and even success, in return for
free board. Professor Wiley says he is
glad TO get new lot OF recruits. The
old ones were getting wise and knew
how to Offset the bad effects of poisons.
Besides some of them grew careless
and were caught eating forbidden
foods outside OF Office hours.
The government will now endeavor
to determine the effect upon the hu.
man system Of eating foods that have
been sweetened with substances other
than sugar. Saccharine and glucose
are two OF the favorite substitutes for
sugar; and are used to 3 great extent
in canned vegetables, in wines, elders,
syrups and other preparations where
intense sweetness is desired. These
substitutes contain preservative quail.
ties, the exact extent Of which will be
ascertained.
The investigation also will take in q
wide range of coloring matter that is
used in foods Of various kinds. Coal
tar dyes are used extensively in foods
TO which it is desired TO impart bril-.
liant color. Thus they are employed
very generally in butter, jams, jellies,
marmalades and other substances.
Aniline dyes are used for the same
purpose. Professor Wiley said lately
that he is of the opinion that some
aniline dyes are harmful to the human
system. "As foreign matter they are
indigestible and impose additional bur.
den on the organs Of the stomach" he
said. "Some are more injurious than
others. English experiments have
been made along the same lines, and
We will use our results 10 compare
them with the data of foreign investi-
grtors. I will take personal charge OF
this inquiry and will measure and
weigh all the preservatives and color
ing materials to be used"
DR.. Wiley is undecided whether to
tell the members of the poison squad
what they are eating or keep this q
secret. Because the men are practi.
cslly all green he thinks it may be
wise to let them know what brands OF
poison they are taking into their
stomachs. Certain members of the
old class were in the habit of studying
up the effects produced by various
kinds Of compounds, and it was found
that the knowledge thus gained inter.
fered somewhat with the experiments.
The present course of inquiry will
continue two years, being only half
concluded. The results of the first
years work, which was devoted to 6
study of preserved meats are now be.
ing put into final shape. Professor
Wiley has announced the general fact
that acids of various kinds employed
to preserve beef and other mests are
injurious, according to the quantities
used. The second year Was devoted to