Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-19
A PPREHENSION is felt in the bu-
~ reau of animal industry because

w
~ reau of animal industry because
the supply OF indispensable mate
rial necessary for the manufacture of
owing to the present extraordinary
commercial conditions brought about
by the European conflict.
Anflin, an oily, colorless compound,
the base of many coal tar dyes, is es-
sential to the composition of the nom
poisonous fluid patented by the bureau
of animal industry. used to brand all
meats inspected by that division of
the Department of Agriculture. Thir-
ty-five hundred workers are employed
by the bureau, of whom $500 are en-
gagged in the division of inspection of
meats. animals and products of ami
mails. Inspection headquarters are
maintained in 240 cities, with $50 es-
adjustments.
When the meats are examined the
government inspector stamps them,
u. S. Examined and Passed." adding
the number of the abattofr. The pack
ing house also stamps it's name or
trade mark upon the meat, the ink for
which is likewise supplied by the De-
partment of Agriculture: These pack
ing houses can use those branding
fluids only which have passed gov
ernmental inspection. Although the
department has supply of the ink on
hand, 1t will soon become exhausted,
and thus far no substitute has been
found. In the meantime all meat in
spectors have been notified by. the de-
partment to observe the strictest
economy in the use of the ink and to
impress all bureau employees and others
within their jurisdiction who use Or
handle it with the Importance of utii-
waste.
owing to this emergency it is neces-
sary for the department to discontinue
furnishing Ink for esta blishment
brands which they apply to hams,
bacon and shoulders, and to require
that burn-brandfng or some other ap-
proved method be employed in apply
Ing TO these primal parts any marks
which the establishment desires to at
FIX but which are not required by law
For this purpose. the inspectors in
charge have been advised to .temporar-
lily permit the use of an ink composed
OF a mixture of pure lampblack, grain
alcohol. glucose, g1ycerin or molasses,
pending a laboratory examination of
the individual Ingredients used in the
preparation of the ink.
Inc government requests that these
houses submit samples of their ingre-
dents to Washington for laboratory
examination, and If this examination
discloses any reason for terminating
the permission to use it, the inspector
In charge will be advised accordingly
II any establishment desires to use an
ink composed of ingredients other
than those previously specified, sam
pies Of the ingredients must he sub
mftted and the ink must not be used
until permission to proceed has been
received from the government.
Meanwhile, brands hitherto applied
with the government ink to burlar
ana other wrappers, must be applied
with the specific lampblack or other
approved ink furnished by the estab-
lishment: The bureau is searching for
substitute for aniline. the secret
composition OF which the American
chemists have failed to discover.
Practically all the glassware, ap-
paratus and chemicals used In the
laboratory work in connection with
the examination of meats, with the
exception of a few Chemicals supplied
by France, are Imported from Ger
many. America can produce all these
necessities. and 10 is believed that the
incidents of the war will teach Ameri-
can business communities how to
utilize their home products and the in
genuity Of the home experts to pro-