Amador ledger., 1907-02-22
The Expert Business.


kerrasci poisoning cases, which -ap-
pears in another column, is one of
the most Disappointing and unsatis-
factory documents we have read in a
long time. As rule. such reports
are Unsatisfactory. In the past few
years we have had several chemical
analyses made. There was the Staples
cases. also samples of water and milk
to determine certain sanitary ques-
tions affecting Jackson In neither
case did the report come up to public
expectation. Nothing of practical
vaiues was developed thereby. The
community was left just as much in
the dark as they we're before ths ex
pert fluctuations were given. Faith in
the expert business as a solvent of
hidden mysteries has been given a.
decided backset by experience, The
mindslinds no resting place in the
bewfldering maze ef-teehpicalities in
which such reports are generally
couched. The Ferrasci cases were of
more than ordinary interest. The
deaths were tracible to a certain meal.
A Particular part of the meal was
singled out, from the circumstances.
as infected with the mysterious death
germs. Deaths have occurred here
abouts before with the same symptoms
as presented in these cases. They
were battling to the physicians-out
side the usual pale of practice. In
all Likelihood, they we're cases of
ptomain poisoning. Each case stand
ing alone, the trouble could not be
traced to its source. The Ferrasci
cases we're different. The death deal
ing food was located with reasonable
accuracy. In the interest of medical
science, and for the protection of the
public health, an exhaustive ex-
animation was demanded by these
cases. By the chemical analysis, and
an inquiry into the method of pre-
serving the beans, and the manner OF
serving the meal, together with all
surrounding circumstances, it was
thonght that information of vital
import to humanity might be forth
coming. In face of such hope held
out, the cost of the experiments we're
of trifiing moment; they were not
worthy of consideration. Every COM
munity, confronted by such an
emergency, has duty to perform
which should not be laid aside on
the ground of expepse. No fault can
be found, therefore, with the policy
pursued in the cases under .considera-
tion III subjeeting them to a most
searching scientific investigation.
No crlminality was ever suspected
from the start, but that did not
obviate the necessity of crucial in
quisition; indeed, it made the inquiry
all the more mandatory.
The truth of the matter seems to
be that so-called experts are not ex-
perts when it comes to such subjects
as ptomaines. They know no more
than the ordinary mortal as to their
character and development. The
result should tend to curb the tend
ency to look to experts in chemistry
for the elucIdation of such matters.
Their eldcidation is not worth the
expense, and of no value to public
health
Willie walled and Winnie wheezed,
while wintry winds whIned weirdly.
Willie wriggled while Winnie wheezed
wretchedly. Wisdom whispers winter
winds work wheeZes. Wherefore we
write, ''Use fKennedy's Laxative
Cough Syrup. Nothing else so
gOod. Sold by T.. W. Ruhser.
The surrender of Mayor Schmitz
and the San Francisco board of
education. on the japanese, question
Is to be deplored. Ii the reason
given for this surrender, namely,
that the government of the island
empire threatened war and a bonn
Dardn1ent of San Francisco, is the
correUt otie, Ii sftipiy adds to the
humiliation Of the situation. We
believe the Japanese are not so anxi-
Gus for war as that reason suggests.
1t is absurd to think that such an
issue would. Hbripgs on hostiIities
between thaAtWp nations. The sur
render to the Japanese view, which
was championed so strongly by presi-l
dent Roosevelt, will encourage Japan
to demand other concessions. They
are apt to get the notion that the
back down of the United States is the
outcome of fear of the navel and
military prowess OF the Japanese.
Other questions will unquestionabIy
arise in the not distant future that
will bring the matter to a settlement.
We do not believe that the amend
ment excluding the Japansee coolies
from the United States will perman-
emily settle the matter. White
children will have to mingIe with
oriental children in the commons
schools. Our state laws are to he
brushed aside because they do not
chime in with treaty obligations from
the Japanese standpoint. The whole
thing is very nauseating to the
American people of the Pacific coast
states. Il
Notice.
Z - T. =
II. d.