The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-25
ARCTIC EXPLORERS
DEHYDRATE 6 mos.
SUPPLY OF FOOD
New Process of Preservation to
Safeguard Appetites Of Capt.
McMillan's Crew.

NEW YORK, July 26.-when Capt.
Donald f. Macmillan and his ok ad.
venturous companions sailed down the
Sheepscot river, Maine. few days ago
headed for Baffin Land and the un-
charted regions of the frozen North.
they carried with them what will be
the first fresh fruits and vegetables
ever to penetrate to that barren land.
The foodstuffs. which included rasp-
berries and cabbagess both to be eaten
raw; fresh spinach. green corn and
new rhubarb. in the stalk, for rhubarb
pies, were packed simply in PAPER ags
and cardboard boxes and were so com.
pact that they will be sufficient to last
six months.
Food Is Dehydrated.
The food was In dehydrated form,
by which chemical process OF remov.
ing the water without destroying the
cell walls bushel reduces to a pound
or two, will keep indefinitely in that
fern and yet may be restored to its
original bulk, color and taste by q
few hours soaking in water. Not the
least interesting items on the list OF
dehydrated foods carried on the Arctic
expedition was quantity Of roast
beef hash, complete, which in its de
hydrated form is a mass Of dry, with
cred kernels. A little water will so re-
store 1t that 1t can be cooked just as
II entirely new. Enough dehydrated
grass to last the dogs Of the expedi
ton for six months at the rate of two
portions a week was included, and a
bunch Of catnip T. the ships cat. a
small quantity of eggs and fish was
also furnished.
The foods were prepared at twenty
four hours notice by scientists and
food experts who have been expert
menting with the dehydration process
as affecting every fruit and vegetable
grown on the North American cox1ti-
nent, and with meats, fish and eggs.
The process, which takes from halt
an hour to four or five hours, accord
ing to the water content OF the article
Is claimed by scientists 70 he far su'
perior to drying or canning. since the
volatiles, flavoring essences, colortngs
and nutritive properties are preserved
intact. The great decrease In bulk un.
der rehydration is due to the fact, lit
tie appreciated, that fresh foods aver.
age 90 per cent water and that in pay.
ing for such the consumer Is actually
paying for water he does not want or
need.
VIII CONSIDER Inventions.
The dehydration process is one OF
the inventions sponsored by the Asso
citation of Scientists. Engineers, In
ventors and Financiers, headed by DR.
Miller Reese Hutchinson, former chief
engineer TO Thomas A. Edison.
DIR. Hutchinson is the inventor OF the
ACQUISITION for the deaf, the Klaxon
horn and several hundred other de
vices. Associated with him In his new
enterprise are Hudson Maxim, Rear
Admiral Samuel MCGOWAN, Paymas
ter General u. s. navy, retired; VIII
lam M. Williams, former Commission
err Of Internal Revenue, and Sir Edgar
Rees Jones, M. p, head OF the priori
ties division of the British ministry
of munitions during the war and Euro
pean director OF the association. Ar
invention will be considered by the as
socia ton only when It comes with the
Endorsement Of an engineer in good
standing. but once accepted the inven
tor will be aided step by step in ths
development of his idea and its thor
ough testing out