THE WASHINGTON TIMES SUNDAY NOVEMBER 20 19-

0JT M Ail I p d-I S or ure I 00

lMI

I

r jeadfIgM

Relentless Foe of All

Who Deal in Adu-lterations

Earnest Work to Safe-

guard Public FromFrauds

Gets Many Letters andKeeps Some Upon a

Funny File

I

Ch mcz LaboratoDept aT

iI

yAyricvli tire

¬

The teat slat in pure food warwfll be red in the next aeseton of Con-

gress if the hopes of Dr Harvey WWiley are realised-

A bill empowering the authorities toexamine and paw upon the purity ofall domestic foods introduced into theStates and Territories of this countrycomes before the Senate for vote Alread has passed the House If it be-

comes a law the chain wilt be oonpieteand bcd will be the way of the trans-gressor For there is a law already ineffect which provides for the inspectionof suspicious foods imported from for-

eign laude With the proposed interstatelaw to working order the people of theUnited States will be assured protectionagainst manufacturers both Europeanand American What a great benefitthis wilt only be realised whenIt is known how many hundreds andthousands of frauds have been perpetrated here by the adulteration and falselabeling of foods imported sand manufactured in this country

If all the IDs that flesh is heir tooriginate in the stomach a manymedical men would have us believe itcertainty behooves the great Americanpeople to be more careful what theyeat Already they have come to such-a pas that many of then Mre en predtgaeted food and havo prehistorictheories about eating only once or twice-a day

It has been my ambition to live longenough to see the American people as-

sured pure foods said Dr Wiley to aTimor reporter and I hope that a fewweeks win see its fulfillment For morethan fifteen years I have worked to ac-complish this end

Doctor Wiley the pure food man atwhom all manner of fun has been pokedby the Joke matter is by no means ajoke When he todk up the gauntletthrown down by a crowd of greedy para-sites who were making huge

the

t

br caB

fortun

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

g to the public foods that werenot what they seemed he determined-to quash their nefarious practices Thiswork tram bona aside and apart from thelarge nmount of purely scientific inves-tigation which has been carried on bythe doctor as head of the Bureau otChemistry of the Department of Agri-culture

In the fifteen years of work we havecovered and are covering all kinds offoods and drink continued Dr Wiley

Tire results of these investigationshave been published hi Bulletinwhich when completed will have thir-teen parts Lets hope that this com-bination of numbers will bring hardluck to the fraudulent dealers We

with dairy products and are endingwith hard drink And apropos of thesesass hard drinks I would say that Ido not object to the sale of Scotch whis-ky In thus country nor to the sale ofdomestic whisky either but what I doinsist upon to that what is sold aswhisky shall really be whisky

Mjr personal experience with Scotchwhisky is rather limited tor I do notdrink K When I hi Edinburgh Ibouffet a bottle of the genuine stuff Intfrrhg te bring it to this country forexamination and comparison with theartJele sold here I packed it carefullyin my valise but that was the lent Iraw of It for my traveling companiondrank it all and left only the bottleHut there is no doubt that much of theScotch in the United StatesI gins of alcolio manufactured in sayPeorla

XMifMtitrra en the HipMace the manufacturers are

to label all their products truth-fully HOfto know exactly whattlny are getting And this is just whatwe have been working for so long The

will get what he wants whathe arise for what be pays for The

eeled front tine cheatIf prevented from

by

wa

1

cow

iii

f

Ill

be-gan

haltcom-

pelled

timerand

SO 1A

d fie NetA P

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

cheating In spite of the rumors to thecontrary there lute been little direct op-

position on the part of the manufac-turers to the eaaetment of the pure foodlaws In the firet place to oppose lawsthat are on the surface only fair andjust to the public would be a decidedblack eye fqr the man who was tryingto put food stuff on the forconsumption by that public Norwill these pure food laws materially af-

fect the commerce of the country except in a direction which should com-mend itself to all

The work on the pure foods has beenalong two separate lines chemical ex-

perimentation and the determination ofWhit were and what wer not pure foodsand the framing and carrying through-of the laws which should govern thesale of the foods A great deal of thehard work baa been necessary to organise the work of investigation alongscientific lines and to perfect the execu-tive organization But this is uuallythe GlUM with the establishment of anynew line of work There hive beendiscouragements at times but the workhas progressed and I hope to turn itover to my successor on a firm basis

Ten or fifteen years ago Dr Wileyused to spend a great deal of his timein the laboratory gluing the examina-tion of the foods his personal attentionBut today he does comparatively littleof the actual laboratory work thoughhe has entire supervision of the workand makes frequent visits to the workroom and test tube in hand helps thechemists with their experiments Thecorps working on the pure food expertmenu now numbers more than twentvfive and there are five separate laboratories in the Bureau of Chemistry whichare used solely for these investigationsIn addition to these rooms are thekitchen and dinning room which areused for the members of the trainingtable of which Dr Wiley is

Test Table Again in Operatien

Ir1I trome

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

We have just begun the table againsaid Dr Wiley The men are eatingspecially prepared foods with a viewto learn the effoet of food adulterantssimilar to borax

No we are not feeding them uponcold storage food exclusively I expertto make experiments with oold storagefood but there will be no special tablestarted for them The frosen foodswill be tried on special subjects atdifferent times By the way I am notmaking war on cold storage for I con-

sider it a great boon to mankind thathas been wonderfully perfected in thepast few years The experiments areonly to see how far cold storage canbe used safely I have some food Inview now which has been in cold

for two years This wilt be triedat the earliest opportunity Itto be in good condition

The work with special tables forfood experiments is only in Its secondyear It hen proved a valuable addition to the experimentation with foodsLast year when the table first startedI u ed to do all the marketing myselfeven saw to the weighing of all thefood that was used on the table Butnow I have given this work to myassistants The executive work of thebureau occupies nearly all of twelveor fourteen hours of my day And ofthis at least half of it la taken up inInterviews Sometimes I spend wholedays listening to arguments of amatuerchemists answering questions of allkinds and being interviewed by news-paper men

A very large percentage of the foodfrauds which have been nraoeticed uponthe unsuspecting public those offalse origin I mean a manufactureror dealer will sell goods made in oneState or country as from some otherState or country A case of this kindearn Sato the office todsy jjment

appears

are

stor-age

a

¬

¬

¬

of olive oil was received at New Yorklabeled Italian whereas the customsomeera have strong suspicions that thoil originally canto from Spain Ofcourse it is to the dealer advantageto say that the oil is from Italy be-

cause from that country is suppcaed to be the best m the world Ifthe importer can veil this oil as Italianoil his profit will be much larger thanit if the oil was put on themarket as Spanish it a earnpie of what is attempted time

Is there any wonder that somelaw is necessary to prevent suit hoaxesand to prevent the cheating of thpublic

Other practices which have beencommon are the introduction of adulter-ants to food stuffs and the sale there-of without any mention of the factthat these adulterants had been addedthe substitution of foreign matter forvaluable constituents and the use ofcoloring matter law passed at thelast term of Congress In regard to theInspection of Imported foods has reduced such frauds to a minimum inimported foods and If the present billson through we will have the foodsof this country well In hand

Row the Laws Are EnforcedAlthough Congress has not provided

tor a special corps of officer to ex-

amine the foods brought into thecountry and those manufactured andsold in the various States neverthe-less we have small difficulty In discover-ing the frauds Instruction has beengiven the customs officials to take carethat no impure be passed and ifthere is an suspicion of fraud samples-of the foods are brought to us for

They are sent either tothe laboratory here or to the sublaboratories in New York and Sun

Another safeguard we have IB inthe manufacturers and Importers them-selves You many be sure that if their

j

1

oil

be

The

wouldoil flat

after-time

fools

ex-amination

Fran-cisco

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

trade is being cut into by the sale ofadulterated or falsely labeled foodthey will not hesitate long before theybring the matter to the attention of theproper authorities In this way the Gov-

ernment and the manufacturer worktogether to give the public the host thatthere is to ue had for the money

Wlllar1 D Blgelow Dr Wileys chiefassistant has direct charge of the ex-

periments are now being madewith foods and food adulterations Allof analyses recorded in the variouslaboratories are brought to him for approval and then put on file The recordsare as complete as a carefully ar-ranged system can make them Thepresent experiments for which a spe-cial table been started go Into thethe minutest detain Every morsel offood that the twelve boarders eat Iscarefully weighed before It Is eaton andnote made of It Its effect upon thehealth and weight of the eater Is recorded as well Once a day before dinnerthe boarders must strip and weighin I might be embarrassing to haveevery morsel of food you oat carefullyexamined as to size and weight at anyother table than this of Dr Wileysbut here everybody Is treated the sameand big or little appetites are aocomodated to the satisfaction of all at leastIn the socalled fore period Three di-

visions are made of each series of ex-

periments namely the fore period whenIt is determined as nearly as possiblehow much food the body needs to maintain it as its normal weight the preser-vative period during which adulteratedfood Is allowed the boarders but theadulterant is left out The time as-

signed to each of theso periods variesand the total time of thu experimentsvaries from seventy tlnys Theobject of the period 1 to restorethe boarder to his condition prece-dent to the beginning ot the experimen-tal period If there has boon any evilchange his physical

latch

the

has

w

after

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

times a day the guests of theBureau of Chemistry assemble in thebasement of the bureaus headquartersat Fourteenth and B Streets southwestwhere a dining room has been fittedup They are not loafers even if theyare getting their dally bread free ofcharge and they give a good imita-tion of JohnnyontheSpot everymorning at C oclock the breakfasthour conies at IS middayand dinner at S3 in the afternoonThe members of the hygienic table ofthe Bureau of Chemistry as it te of-ficially named must be on time as thefood has to be weighed and if they arlete they get cold meals The bltloffare is made as varied as possible asthe men ar kept under observation forsuch a long time Roast beef beef-steak lamb veal pork chicken andturkey are among the meats selectedFish oysters and eggs tine haveplaces en the list Flutter free fromcoloring matter and salt is used BggMmilk and cream are carefully selaetodfrom dairies inspected by the authori-ties of the District of Columbia Thevegetables of the season are chosen forthe table or If they cannot be hadvegetables preserved by sterilizationalone Fruits coffee and tea In smallquantities make up the rest of the bllloffare A rotary bltloMare is onlyduplicated onco every seven days

The men at the table are not watchodor spied upon They are simply putupon their honor to follow the ruleslaid down by Dr Wiley and when theyleave the table for a period of recreation they are required to sign a paper tothe effect that they have faithfully observed these rules One thing that tho

Luncheon

Three

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

pother yedo La oYiztor<

Cass c LyperltnenIJ9 WITh ReFireTafedh T 7z15hh s

experimenter Insist upon is that themen shall not have the blues Everyphysician is familiar with the markedeffect the mental attitude has upon thebodily health They may be either

or unfavorable Cheerful sur-roundings and good company have a lotto do with the good health of ovaryman It has been Impossible to maketho experiments without tolling theboarders what was going on and thusavoid all effect that the knowledgethey were eating adulterated foodmight have upon them In order toprevent the men from taking a dislike-to any particular in which theadulterant was the adulteranthas sometimes been placed in a capsuleand given to the men at mealThen they folt a keen relish for all thefoods put before them

Formaldehyde TestsIr the present tests formaldehyde has

siilwtJiuted for borax It is prob-ably the most widely used food pre-servative In this country next to boraxThese experiments will be of especialinterest to the milkman for it is in milkthat formaldehyde is principally usedThere have been vegetables on the mar-ket In which this preservative was usedhut they have been few an1 far betweenSo as not to force every man to be amilk drinker Irrespective of his tastesthe food which is used at tho table

bet

i

fa-vorable

1

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

adulterated according te the desiredamount

Speaking of the borax experiments andof the fffect of such adulterants upondie human system Dr Wiley said Inthe consideration of the action of

of a mineral nature such asborax or boric add it must be remem-

bered that the animal as welt as theplant a certain mineral hunger These minerals serve as real foodsand also aid the functional activity ofthe various organs

it 1 admitted by all who haveexamined the subject In a critical way

by the users of preservatives thatin certain maximum quantities the limitof toleration is reached in individ-

ual and positive injury done But it isalso well recognised that many if notall of the usual foods when used In IfVfjeexcess produce injurious results Themany oases of disease produced by over-eating or by eating improperly pre-pared or poorly foods or by eating at unusual times are illustrationsof this fact Upon this baste and uponthe further statement that when used inextremely small quantities the preserva-tives in question cannot baas

regardeda-

s

harmful lr founded the principal ar-gument in favor of the use of the pre-

servatives aside from the fact that thefoods themselves are kept In a bettarund more state

If however the question of borax isdecided in favor of its use as H pre-servative of foods the principal is es-tablished that all similar preservativesmay bo used with Impunity whilea man might not eat enough preservedmeat to do him harm if all the othorfoods he eats held similar adulterants hemight be seriously insured

But

even

eel

cooked

I wholesome

pre-servatives

possesses

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

Public Safeguarded by LabelsIt appears therefore that there is

no convincing force in the argumentfor the use of small quantities unless-It can be established that there Is onlyn single preservative used In foodsthat this preservative is used In only-

a few foods that It will be consumed-In extremely minute quantities and thattho foods in which it Is found are con-

sumed at irregular intervals and insmall quantities On the other handthe logical conclusion which seems tcfollow from the data at our disposalU that boric acid and equlvalait amountof borax in certain quantities shouldbe restricted to those cases where thenecessity therefor is clearly manifestand where it is demonstrated that othermethods of food preservation are notapplicable and that without the use ofsuch a preservative the deleterious ef-

fects produced by the foods themselvesby reason of decomposition would befar greater than could possibly comefrom the use of the preservative In

minimum quantities In these caseIt would also follow apparently as amatter of public information and

for the protection of the youngthe sick and the debilitated that eacharticle of food should be plainly labeledand branded in regard to the character

es-

pecially

¬

¬

and quantity of the preservative employed

When Dr Wiley pronounced most ofthe Scotch whisky sold in this countrycreosote raw alcohol and water thenative distillers and dealers in thegreat American beverage threw up theirhands and crowed fur joy But no prophet may have honor in hie own landnot even a weather prophet and DrWiley speedily followed in the footstepsof his illustrious predecessors He puthis foot in it metaphorically speakingwhen he declared that the greater partof the American whisky sold in thiscountry is no better or purer than thesocalled Scottish brands

Not less than 86 per cent of thewhisky made in the United States isimpure seMi Dr Wiley Probably anexamination of the whole would showan even greater proportion adulteratedWe are now collecting samples ofwhisky made In various parts of thecountry and will make an examinationof them later Merely a chemical exami

nation added the doctor with a drysmile We shall not run an

table for determinations along thisline

How the Rectifiers Take ItSince Dr Wiley made his accusations

against the American article there hasbeen a howl from the manufacturers allover the country that has nearly deaf-

ened the department Especially havethe voices of the rectifiers been raisedIn a shrill chorus For It is they whofurnish the great part of adulteratedwhisky One Indignant party writesIn these by no means uncertain terms

The rectifiers of the country pay Intothe United States Treasury more than

experimen-

tal

I

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

lMiM hXk annually They do more thanany other Industry to support the Government of the United Stator It will befound that your policy Is shortsightedand Inimical to the Governments inter-

ests nd we believe that you have outlived your usefulness

This came from a prominent firm ofwhisky men and thore have been othersThose interests have frankly served

on Dr Wiley that they will do theirbest to separate him from the Govern-

ment service as soon as may beFurthermore the rectifiers hotly claim

that their product is as good as anywhisky produced

Dr Wiley could make his fortune nowby Iftavlng the Government service connecting himself with a whisky houseand giving some particular brand hisunqualified Indorsement For ho has re-

ceived letters from all parts of the coun-

try beseeching his advice as to purewhiskies A letter from Gen Lew Wal-

lace author of flea Hur said In partWont you be good enough to tell me

where and of whom I can get somepure rye whisky I am In need of a

supply of the article not for morcha-nlse but to put down in my cellar

own use and that of my friendsThat letter Is a fair example of a Hood

of thttin dully pouring inI

for-m

no-

tice

real-

ly

i

<

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

¬

Famous Poison Squad-

Is Not Composed ofLoafers

Crusader Reviews WorkThat He Has So Far

Achieved

Last Shot in War to Be

Fired at NextCongress-

But the peculiar letters which comeInto Dr Wiley are not all from thosewho are interested in the whisky question He gets advice that cheapest ofhuman commodities from all sorts andconditions of men and women The notice that he was going to start afor special food experiments drew hundreds of applications and still drawsthem One man whose specialty hashitherto been wild and farm landsin Wisconsin and the Dakotas wrote asfollows

I have observed from time to timearticles In the newspapers in regard toyour experiments with preservatives forfoods by tests upon persons under yoijrcharge and direction and now it occursto me that you might newboarders And if so will you kindlyInform me under what arrangements Iwould offer myself I am fiftytwo years

I old In good young in appearance being taken as perhaps forty orso years old The land business has

I been only a temporary affair with meI and the office work in which I have been

table

wish dome

¬

¬

¬

employed has failed So I would loolupon this as a new job

A member of the West Side AthleticClub in New York who runs betterthan he writes wrote to Dr Wiley inregard to some tests of tobacco whichthe Department of Agriculture madeIt read

Reading about the experiments youare going to make on tobacco users iwould like to be one of your Subjects ihave used tobacco for about ten yearsand never found any 111 effects from Iti have used It continually while trainingi can run from one to twentyfive mileswithout stopping Could you have merun every day and what effect to-

bacco would have on me 1 think I wouldmake an interesting subject I have gotan open challenge to run any amateurRunner in the country a 12 or 24hourrace hoping to hear from you 1 remain etc

A Poet on BoraxOne of the most amusing letters on

Dr Wileys files came from a Massa-

chusetts sane It was on the subject fborax that be tackled the department-

I am poet novelist aroheoogi tformer etc about as Virgil was I am-

ft I have studied long and faithfulon soda and borax and this is why Iwrite to you I know of the experimentbeing tried IR your department and Ican help you I can embalm a cadav ras It was done 4000 years ago but I will

dissolve all the fluids lubricants fitsIn the body leaving only a little of themuscles and tendons on the bones like

leather Borax is one form ofBorax is a devil boradc acid wurse

I am sorry our country to ruined jbv trusts monopolists and butcher nJ

note

n

cued

¬

¬

¬

>

n R magnates People begin soou

to eMU things b their right namesThe poet in him could not help break-

ing out and he added these versus

which he called An Address to

Of all the devils in this world of gracePerhaps the takes tine

placeThe is a power tar fni

smallPerhaps the boraxflend win beat th m

all

When the trust Judas tries the stateto

Taking his mtlHone out of water 4

It Is not public policy I seeHigh treason the name that comes

to be

The public Judas will all con-

trolBehold and see a Congress without

coalThe people freeze and they begin t

dieWe thing of Hawen and his gallows

high

Congress awake your bleedingcountry cans

Congress you freeze in your ownhalls

Congress aweke be te tt poople trueflie this right of

trwtt

NUT

Con-

gress

S

Lades

awa ks

1 flityean

¬

¬