Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-14
MEDICATION OF CANNED GOODS
j.

WASHINGTON. d. C.. March 13.-An
investigation OF food poisoning has lust
been started by tho Medical School OF
Harvard University. For some time Il
has boon realized throughout tho mcdi-
cal profession that the knowledge upon
this subject was distinctly limited. so
mat such an investigation Is very
much needed. Tho work will progress
indcr tho supervision OF National
Research Council. consisting OF seven
eminent scientists chosen from other
universities by the National Academy
OF science; and II is to be financed by
'he National Gamers Association.
The last is significant. Never before
IN the history Of things commercial has
an industry not only sought. but paid.
70 nave the N-ray OF science turned
upon It's working machinery But the
Gamers arc eHasperated. For years
the medical profession has said cruel
.hinSs ABOUT canned goods. 1t has adj
riseh people to grow fresh vegetab Ies
IN the cellar in preference to eating
tin plated" food; II hos blamed a
'arRc number OF winter complaints on
canned diet, and II hae promptly as.
signed the cause of food poisoning
cases TO the eating OF canned goods
Now. the Gamers have handed tho
mcdicos a lump sum and asked them
TO prove the merit OF their own state
ments What Is food poisoning, any
way: the Gamers want TO know: and
The National Gamers Association.
working in it's own laboratories. has
heen unable to shed any light on the
question itself. The laboratory in
washington. which is maintained at
an annual expense OF $4,000. has dis.
covered some valuable things about
canned goods that were not known 70
the industry ten years ago. but They
have not been able to find that there
was ANYTHING either in the canning or
m n ~ -
upon the human digestion.
OF course. canned goods have even
been held responsible for typhoid
Fever" said member OF the canncrs'
association. not long ago. implying
That the charge was obviously ridicu-
i"us. but no more so that other equally
GToundlcss ones tho Industry had To
contend with. Ever body knows, or
ought 10 know. that canned goods have
20 he heated to temperature that will
ki!i any ordinary germ. he said hut
the typhoid germ is KILLED by much
lower temperature than the ordinary
germ"
Tin Can Ia Reliable.
When asked IL nc did not think food
poisoning might be caused by tho eating
q! spoiled canned goods. tho same NOM
brr asserted that man would have
TO hc blind 20 do such thing. The
TIN can VAS the most reliable article
on earth. he said. AS long AZ it's con.
tents we're fresh, IL rnruaincd perfectly
calm. but il they spoiled it Immediately
swcllcd M. losing rs former graceful
outline and showing clearly that some
thing was tho matter.
\ batch OF spoiled canned goods
for occasionally they do spoi!-rare!y
reaches the retailer. hut the loss Is
felt 10y tho consumer. nevertheless. Any
loss of food always l.. SO. Tho can
ucrs figure, they arc doing tho whole
nation. as well rs themselves. 4 bene-
Mt when they maintain a board OF
chemists TO help them solve the prob
lon of keeping food from spelling Not
long ago. for example. the Gamers
were having a terrible time III the can.
ming OF corn. The majority o! the
corn came through tho process ahso-
lu;ciy black: and nobody knew wig
Then the matter was referred To tho
chemists in tho Washington laboratory
After several cMperim they found
that tive canning factories we're using
machine having copper die. Tary
suggested that tin be substituted for
the copper. and after that the corn
came through it's natural color.
In spite of all this effort TO cafe.