Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-28
TALK WITH DR., WILEY
Uncle Sans Chief Authority on
Food StuffS.
GREAT AMERICAN STOMACH
And Some of the Queer Things That
Go Into It.
B0RAX AND THE B0ARDERS
Tests Made on the Noted poison
Squad"-Chicken Salads
Made of Pork.
BORAX AND THE BOARDERS

Copyright, 1905. by Frank O. Carpenter)
I spent an afternoon this week with DR.
II. w. Wiley talking about the great
American stomach and the queer things
which go into it. Dr. Wiley is In charge of
the bureau of chemistry OF the Agricultural
Department. and he knows more about
what man eats than any other person con-
uected with the government. He is Uncle
Sans chief authority on foods, and he has
been studying and analysing our eatables
for the past twenty years. He has an in
ternational reputation as a chemist, and is
member of the chief chemical societies
OF this country and Europe. A large part
of the present discussion as to pure meats
and other foods which Is now agitating the
public mind is based upon his investiga-
lions, and, more than any other man, he
has awakened the people to knowledge of
certain poisons which we are taking In
daily doses.
Uncle Sans Boarding House
1t was DR.. Wiley who originated the idea
of Uncle Sans boarding house, the queer
est institution ever presided over by a ma
tional landlord. This has been in existence
for the past four years. during which time
the actual effect of prepared meats and
adulterated foods has been tested by run
ullB lnSm through a dozen government
clerks, who were pledged to eat nowhere
else and who had 10 subject themselves to
regular examinations as to their physical
condition.
This boarding house has been carried on
In connection with the bureau OF chemistry
y kitchen was established and the food
was carefully prepared. DIR. Wiley has In
many cases weighed out each ration OF
bread and meat, and he has seea that every
man ate just the things required to make
the tests. The boarders have been con-
scientiOus They are government clerks re-
ceiving from so and upward per month
and they have known that IL they broke
their oath as to eating they would probably
lose their Jobs with the government for all
time In the future. The clerks chosen for
the purpose were from twenty to thirty
years Of age. They were lusty young fell
lows in the prime of physical manhood,
and they entered the boarding house OF
their own voltion, agreeing to submit to
its requirements They paid nothing for
food Uncle Sam furnishing everything in
order to ascertain. by actual test the eff
feet OF certain adulterants. acids, and other
things upon the human system.
During these experiments the boarders
were carefully watched. They were tested
as a whole and as individuals and IL one
lost weight too rapidly or had more than
an undue amount of headache or other all
ments. his peculiar poison was omitted for
a time. only to be resumed as he got better
BY carefully experimenting upon the twelve
men DR.. Wiley has been able to gather a
which himself and other scientists have
made valuable deductions
These food experiments have covered diff
ferent articles from year TO year. They
started out with meats, and later on took
up certain acids and other preservatives
used in butter. pickles and canned foods
The scientists have tested different liquors.
and have, in short. carefully examined al
most every important article prepared by
man for the great American stomach
Borax for Meat, Fish and Oysters.
During the first year the experiments
were largely devoted to borax and boracic
acid. Every one OF us has seen borax
Women frequently use it for washing their
hair and also for cleaning clothes. 1t Is a
clear white crystalline substance. which
floats on certain lakes and ponds in differ
ent parts OF the world | have seen great
quantities of II on lakes In Chile and Boz
livia. and IL Is also found abundantly in
parts OF California and Nevada The stuff
is practically tasteless and one might eat
considerable amount OF II without knowing
IT, n mixed with other foods. Borax and
boracic acid are used by meat packers,
dairymen. and those who prepare fish for
the markets. They are sprinkled over oys-
tiers to keep them fresh. and are often put
into the tub oysters. carried over the coun-
try. They are sometimes used In butter,
milk and cream, and are frequently sprink-
led over fresh meat and fresh fish.
Borax and the Boarders.
When these facts We're first published
the packers claimed that borax and boracic
acid were harmless. and Uncle Sam re-
piled:
.''You may be right, but it will do no harm
10 test it" II was with this view that
DR. Wiley started his boarding house. He
took these twelve lusty clerks and fed them
food which contained Just SO much boracic
acid. Each man ate In one shape and an
other an amount about half the size OF
pea every day for the first five days For
the next I'VE days he was given double as
much. and the quantity was gradually in
creased until he sickened lie was then put
on recreation diet. and when better
started again. The stuff was so administer
ed that the men hardly knew they Were
taking IT, They could not taste IT, and IL
gave forth no smell. To all outward APP
pearances their food was just like that OF
the ordinary boarding house. except that
Il was the best the market could AFFORD and