Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1912-02-29

ed the Bureau Of Chemistry DR.. FL.
w Wiley Chief. saw and talked
with George w. Stiles. Jr.in charge
of Psychological Investigations
concerning especially the oyster in
dustry, who informed US that he
ard not nr. Wiley was the man for
whom the oyster industry was gun.
ming: that be bad charge Of and
with his corps Of assistants investi-
gated the oyster contamination ques
ton all over the United States from
Maine to Mexico and on the Pacific
Coast to Puget Sound where oysters
are being planted from the Atlantic
Coast and In Bullitin No 1876 issued
by the Agricultural Department.,
April 10. 1911 he gives an account
O: his impressions which also inn
presses US. Previous to our seeing
him we saw a Mr.. Sullivan, Chivells
lawyer In the case OF United States
VS. Seven hundred bushels 81 oys-
ters In shell mo 995 District Dock
Of, " where oysters in thu she'll we're
ofYsred for sale from the Potomac In
violation OF the pure food lava
case upon which we were summon.
cd as witnesses.
We we're informed that our testi-
m0ny would not DO needed as Mr..
Chivell was obliged TO lose bis case
The Government having determined
tc clean up tbe oyster business on
the Potomac River which Was a
menace TO the Public Health. When
We saw Mr. Stiles. our doubts as to
the meaning OF the quotations be
came clear, when he said the oys-
ters OF the Potomac we're unfit for
food, because ell the waters were
polluted and that theoyster contain.
cd higher percentage OF Bacterial
The Bacillus Coll Communists than
was safe TO human health That
even crabs were unsafe as food and
the waters were unsafe TO battle Ia.
He spoke Of many cases OF disease
directly sraceble 10 aforesaid causes
and inrtber--sald that II he was
wrong that the whole theory OF
germ infection was q iallacy and
hat believing 10 the truth Of their
tbeory they we're determined to
carry out the provisions Of the pure
food laws. He showed analyses Of
waters and Of oysters taken from
eli parts Of ths Potomac, from It's
mouth 10 Washington. They show
cd high percentage Of sewage con.
taminatiou aud tbs gem present
while nos Bacillus Typbosus was a
Bacillus Coll Communis--
which undoubtedly proves favor.
able environment for macy germs
that arc dangerous 70 human lie
and 70 health He also stated that
oargos u' oysssfs coming TO Wash
Ingtou containing germs we're liable
W be condemned and their owners,
or shippers arrested ard q ed. You
must STE What etfect this must have
upon The trade when you know that
many small runners have already
been arrested and fined
NV Mr. Stiles, with whom I pre-.
sumed 10 argue, concerning the
danger OF eating oysters from our
waters because Of the Jack ofdiseaso
here where oysters aud crabs are
staple articles Of food. promised 70
make another careful examination Of
our waters the watershed and tho
oysters fresh from our bars aud TO
investigate our planting grounds
and the methods OF our dealers abd
shuckers and IL is TO DO hoped that
no further action will be taken by
the government, which must by so
doing persecute our trade, sili that
investigation Is completes. am
thoroughly convinced that the
ranria ~ MarVtnnd awa ~ than
selves 70 appropriate fuHd add
make provis on Tor joint investlRa
tion that will conserve their inter
est without prejudice. And II II
Is true that the Potomac Is polluted,
these investigators who should be
scientific men, fully competent. will
fiud the cause and we will be In a
position TO demand OF the right
source the proper remedy.
Respectfully yours,
WALTER b. DENT