The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-05-30
SAME METHODS USED BY THE
CHICAGO HEALTH DEPART
MENT USED HERE IN DETECT
ING THE HIDDEN DANGER.
EIGHT DEALERS WATCHED.
FlagrantIy Violating the State
Law in Regard to The Use of Pre-
servatIves.

Scientific tests of milk delivered
and sold in the city of Richmond dur
ing April by eight dairymen revealed
the fact that the milk retailed by six
contained formaldehyde or "formalin,"
a preservative. This is in flagrant
violation of the law against the use of
pre- servatives in milk. The tests have
been made by Forrest Allen, a mem
Der of the senior class of Earlham Col
lege. Professor Fl. \. Holmes. of the
department of chemical science at the
college gave the tests his personal at
tention and declares they are accurate
and reliable.
The announcement will create SEN
sation among the consumers of milk in
this city. 1t has been believed that
since the scare of a few years ago
which spread throughout the state and
precipitated special legislation in re
gard to the use of preservatives in
milk. dairymen of this vicinity were
abiding strictly within the law. Ac-
Cording to DIR. Holmes the violations
have been nothing less than flagrant
and far larger amount of the pre-
servative has been used than is re-
Quired to bring about the intended re-
suits
In discussing the matter, DR.. Holmes
said: The use of formaldehyde or
"formalin," as it is called popularity
but dangerous to health. There may
be some occasion TO embalm q corpse
with formalin but there is nothing at
tractive in the idea of treating the
milk We drink with it
The temptation to use this sub
stance is very great TO the dairymen
One part of formaldehyde in twenty
Thousand parts of milk will keep it
sweet for two days of hot weather
The dairyman. however, is usually not
SO scientific as to be able to reach
this ratio and doubtless uses a hum
dled times the necessary amount with
corresponding increase in danger to
our health.
IF there is dispute as to the effect
of this preservative on the living body
we need only 10 consider that it is
used to prevent fermentation in milk
and in a similar manner must inter
fere with the processes ot Digestion
Richmond has boasted of the ex-
cellence Of the milk sold here vet the
tests made in the Earlham laboratory
show conclusively that our dairymen
are breaking the law
During April and May eight milk
dealers were watched and six were
found guilty of using formaldehyde
The two who were not guilty were
subjected TO single tests only or they
might not possess such spotless rep
utations. Out of the twenty-five tests
on the milk from these eight dairies
twenty-five gave excellent tests for for
maldehyde. Considering that the
weather was not particularly hot in
April we may infer that the honest
milk dealer is often reckless in his
use of the preservative. And what
may we expect in July and August?
The sulphuric acid tests as used
by the Chicago Health Department
gave us the results obtained 1t is so
accurate that some authorities claim
IT will indicate one part in two hund-
red thousand parts.
Richmond has slept in fancied Sc
Curity because it has the privilege OF
sending samples of milk to the state