Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-31

position, the number of such shipments
has not decreased. In fact, continued IN
vestigatiOns in this line have resulted In
a greater collection of such adulterateo
samples and an increased number OF
seizures than during the preceding year.
During the fruit season of the current
year the investigation concerning. I'M
mature citrus fruits was again taken up.
It was found that unripe fruit OF this
character, particularly oranges was
treated to increase the color in the peel,
thus Stimulating fully matured fruit SO
infallible was the proof obtained, that 1t
was established beyond doubt to be an
illegal practice, and food inspection deci-
sion 1873 was issued giving the opinion OF
the department in this matter.
Among the commodities that have been
benefited by the pure food law are such
valuable food substances as milk and
cream. 1t has been the custom OF the de-
partment In past milk campaigns to mass
the inspectors at certain points for in
vestigation. but the addition Of new lines
Of work prevented this custom during
the last year. This, however. did not
prevent a scrutiny of milk products fur
nished to a number Of cities through
out the country.
A large amount of successful work in
the inspection of drugs was carried on
during the year. At the drug inspection
laboratory here in Washington 162
samples were examined. The inspection
of factories producing drug products and
the supervision of interstate traffic in
the case of such goods was continued.
Samples of proprietary and patent medl-
cines were obtained and in addition Off
cial samples were collected of a number
of phaYmaceuticals, which are recognized
by the United States PharmacOpoeia and
the National Formulary. These goods
MT nod nv no
but are manufactured for dispensing upon
physicians prescriptions: the necessity
for such articles conforming to the pre-
scribed standards of purity is thus even
greater than in patent medicine.
Adulterated crude drugs, not of this
country, were imported through ports
not having laboratory inspection, ana
thus escaping the examination. which is
always made at laboratory ports. There
were several instances Of such violations
OF the law.
The field Investigations of poultry this
past year proved interesting to a number
of people not connected with the depart
ment in any way. In July, 1910. the field
branch of the food research laboratory
was transferred from d poultry packing
plant in Atchison, Kan, to southwestern
Iowa. Laboratory investigation and ship
ping experiments were made here at two
packing houses sufficiently close together.
The laboratory was always open to visit
ors and they were many and various.
tural colleges, anxious to provide their
students with the latest facts concerning
food investigation, to the, railway refrig-
orator service man, whose duty lay in get
ting perishables to market in sound con-
dition, and the housewife who, of course.
desires only the most wholesome OF poul-
try.
A careful study was made of the most
advisable method for the packing and
shipping of poultry. Through the coop
GRAFTON of the different branches of the
industry arrangements were made Tor
continuous observation and investigation
of poultry shipments from the time of
killing in Iowa, to the sale to the con-
sumner in New York. The two most COM
monty used methods of packing were "dry
packing and lice packing" The dry
picked poultry was chilled in cold air I'M
til the temperature of the body cavity in
dictated that the animal heat had been re-
moved; then 1t was packed In boxes hold
ing twelve birds, shipped In g. refrigerated
car and maintained under dry refrtgera-
ton until marketing was finished.
In comparison is the method Of water
chilling and 'ice packing" Under this