The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-04-15

, From the Philadelphia North American.
That many eminent authorities are
far from accepting the conclusions or
the governments referee board re
garding b%enzoate of soda-the use of
| which as Il preventative would be sane
toned in PENNSYLVANIA should the
Thompson bill become a LAWS again
indicated by an editorial OF the sub
lect which appears in the journal OF
tic American Medical association.
, This sustatns the contention of many
physicians and chemists in condemning
the use of the product in the prepare
1ion of foods and again plainly proves
that the labored Ease in aNor of ben
zoate of soda is far from being proved.
Recognizing the Importance of the
work which has been accomplished by
DR.. Harvey w. Wiley, chief Of the
| United States bureau of chemistry.
this important declaration on the ques-
ton sustains his position on the ques-
tion of the use of benzoate.
Wiiey's Position Upheld.
The editorial says, in part:
."rhis decision Of the board leaves
the question of the physiologic action
OF sodium benzoate on the community
practically where it was before; that is.
that. while the substance is known to
be ii bacterial poison. its deleterious
action OH the human organism is, In
the words OF the Scotch verdict, not
proven
at is greatly to be regretted that
the public announcement of the de
cislon of Tie referee hoard should not
have been so worded as to make clear
to the public mind the limitations of
the question under consideration.
There is some danger that to the
public the decision will mean that DR..
a matter Of fac it means nothing of
the sort. The point that the boards
report emphasizes ia that under the
conditions of the experiments-which
consisted Of giving healthy young men
certain definite qualities of sodium
benzoate for a period not exceeding
four months the preservattve is With
out deleterious action and is not in
furious to health.
I assume from these findings that
the use of ben2oate Of soda in food
stuffs is therefore beyond criticism is
absolutely u~nwarranted. and there il
little doubt but that the board itself
would be the last body to sanction such
an assumption. Neither is there the
slightest ground for assuming from the
experiments hat benzoate OF o III
milk used by infants and inNalids is
not dcleterious or injurious.
"BenZoate of soda is incorporated in
foods for one-or both-of two rea-
sons: TO take the place of cleanliness
and care In preparing. or to permit the
use of inferior products. The use OF
sodium benZoate is unnecessary; this
has been proved for years by some OF
the higher grade manufacturers Of pre-.
serves and catsups and for centurie:
by the housewife.
but when the chemical preservativ.
is not used, cleanliness. care and whole.
some raw products must be. Thost
manufacturers, therefore. who would
markct stale meat for fresh. who would
substitute waste for fresl
whole fruit. who look on clean facto.
ries and careful methods as a needles:
expense. are the ones to whom the us,
of benZoate of soda appeals.
"Of course. the findings Of the boart
have been received with rejoicings b,
those who have wanted to get Wiley
scalp Now Wiley will have to re.
sign This ends Wiley's drastic rul.
ings.' are samples Of expressions tina
are coming from press agents Of man.
Gfaoturers OF inferior foodstuffs and o