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NEW COMMITTEE APPOINTED.

To the Members of the Association of State and National Food and Dairy Departments:

At the meeting of the Association of State and National Food and Dairy Departments, held at Mackinac Island, Mich., August 4-7, 1908, the following resolution was unanimously adopted:

"Resolved, That this association is convinced that all chemical preservatives are harmful in foods and that all kinds of food products are and may be prepared and distributed without them, and pledges its best efforts to use all moral and legal means at its disposal to exclude chemical preservatives from food products, and, to this end, we ask the cordial support of all national, state and municipal authorities charged with the enforcement of food and drug laws. And in this connection, we desire to express our gratitude for the helpful services of the medical profession generally, and especially to the American Medical Association." We now have before us in our official work:

1. The report of the Bureau of Chemistry of the United States Department of Agriculture to the effect that the use of benzoate of soda in the preparation of food products should not be permitted.

2. The published abstract of the report of the referee board, permitting and apparently encouraging the widest use of this chemical preservative.

3. The experiments of chemists of the food departments of several states, indicating that benzoate of soda cannot be regarded as harmless.

In view of the conflict of results among these authorities and the resultant chaotic condition as to the use of benzoate of soda in food products, and in view of the tremendous interests of all the people, involved in the final determination of these questions, the Executive Committee of the Association of State and National Food and Dairy Departments has authorized and instructed the president of the association to appoint a committee of eleven from among the state food chemists, to review not only the experiments and the work and conclusions of the Bureau of Chemistry of the United States Department of Agriculture and of the Referee Board on these subjects, but the work of the state food departments as well, this committee to report its findings to the Association of State and National Food and Dairy Departments at its next annual meeting. In conformity with these instructions, the following committee of state food chemists is appointed for the purposes above set forth, this committee to report at the thirteenth annual meeting of the association at Denver, August 24-27, 1909:

Dr. M. A. Scovell, Chairman, Kentucky.
Prof. W. M. Allen, North Carolina.

Dr. E. H. S. Bailey, Kansas.

Prof. H. E. Barnard, Indiana.

Dr. Richard Fischer, Wisconsin.

Prof. Julius Hortvet, Minnesota.
Prof. M. E. Jaffa, California.

Prof. E. F. Ladd, North Dakota.

Prof. Floyd W. Robison, Michigan.

Prof. James H. Shepard, South Dakota.
Dr. Chas. D. Woods, Maine.

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REPORT OF PURE FOOD AND DRUG INSPECTOR OF COLORADO BOARD OF HEALTH. The report of Chief Inspector Wilbur F. Cannon seems lost in the bulky Ninth Annual Report of the Colorado Board of Health. Mr. Cannon thinks that the Colorado statute providing that the rules and regulation of the Board of Health on foods should not be more stringent than, nor in conflict with, those adopted by the United States Secretary of Agriculture, a good one. He also believes it to be wise to place the enforcement of the law in a slowly changing board. The commission asks that civil service rules be observed in his department. He also pleads for a state sanitary law.

Attention is particularly called to the work of the department in improving the Colorado markets as regards oysters, dairy products, canned vegetables and meats and vegetables exposed for sale on the streets.

In regard to liquors, Commissioner Cannon says: "The proper regulation of the liquor traffic has undoubtedly been the hardest matter to control, either by federal or state departments. The question as to what is whisky is still undetermined by the highest court in our land. Prosecutions have been brought by the federal government, and it appears as if an understanding had been reached between the government and the rectifiers that nothing more would be done until these matters were determined. It is really such a technical and intricate matter that I believe the part of wisdom in this. state would be to await the final determination. When I state to you that no chemist has yet been able to determine by analysis the difference between whisky, distilled and properly aged in charred oak barrels, and what has been known as whisky for three hundred years, which is made by redistilling the former class of whisky and adding thereto various colors and flavors, except in determining whether or not coloring matter has been added thereto, you will at once realize the difficulty of arriving at a conclusion. A great deal of misbranding has occurred in the alleged fruit flavored wines, brandies and cordials. I am pleased to report to you that in a very few days we shall arrive at an understanding with the liquor trade of this state that will enable us to regulate improper traffic in these substances, and that with the good will and assistance of the trade itself. They have promised to furnish us with convicting evidence in cases where positively injurious or deleterious substances are being sold as liquors. If we can accomplish this, with their assistance, we will render this state a greater service than if we were to engage in an interminable conflict, with possibly disastrous results."

Only one man has been brought to trial and he was soaked good and plenty. One E. C. Huffman, a druggist, was found guilty of selling headache powders. containing acetanilide without that fact being stated on the label, and was fined $300 and order committed to jail until paid.

The chemist, Edward C. Hill, in his report to "Dear Dr." Taylor, reports 604 specimens analyzed, and says. that the work in his department is daily growing in volume. He further says that about one specimen in four of the foods, drugs and beverages examined was found adulterated, misbranded, or below standard in strength or quality.

FIRST ANNUAL REPORT OF THE TEXAS DAIRY AND FOOD COMMISSIONER.

The First Annual Report of the Dairy and Food Commissioner of Texas is at hand, and considering the limited amount of money at the disposal of Commissioner Abbott he certainly makes a superb showing for the dairy and food work in that state. In the first place he makes a detailed showing of the number of foods analyzed and the result of the analysis. Secondly, he publishes a financial statement showing moneys received and expended. Several older organizations could copy these features with good taste and in fairness to their constituents.

We notice in the this detailed statement also that purchases for supplies have been distributed among several dealers, doubtless with regard to suitability, economy or both. Thus optical and chemical supplies have been purchased from Bausch & Lomb Optical Co.. of Rochester, N. Y.; Earnest Leitz, Elmer and Amend of New York, and E. H. Sargent & Co. of Chicago. It looks peculiar when all supplies are furnished by one firm without competitive bids. Dr. Abbott, as mentioned in a previous issue of this journal, wants a larger appropriation, and he should have it. For this work New York appropriates $150,000; Pennsylvania, $175,000; Ohio, $90,000; Illinois, $30,000; while Texas gives but $5,000. Thirty-four suits were brought last year in Texas and but one conviction obtained, but thirty-three suits are pending.

Dr. Abbott takes a radical position regarding patent medicines, favoring a law prohibiting any advertising matter in connection with the goods except the name of the article and the manufacturer.

The complete report of Dr. Abbott on baking powder is as follows:

"The value of a baking powder, not considering the effect on the health of those who eat bread in which it is used, depends on the quantity of carbon dioxide liberated in the process of cooking; for it is this gas which, liberated in the dough, gives to bread its light consistency. If the chemicals that are used in the manufacture of baking powder are not kept dry, and more or less separated by some substance, a baking powder gradually deteriorates. In other words, a partial chemical action takes place, and a proportionately large per cent of the available carbon dioxide gas is lost before the baking powder is used. For this reason, all baking powders should conform to a certain standard for available carbon dioxide gas. Some States have adopted a standard of 10 per cent, which we think should be adopted for the State of Texas. If we do not adopt such a standard, the result will be that much old goods will be shipped into our State that can not be shipped into those States that have a standard. While these baking powders may conform to our law, in giving the names of the several ingredients on the labels, the public will pay a high price for them, be that price ever so small, if we take into consideration the efficiency of the goods. The groceryman will not buy at any time a sufficient supply of green beans to last him through the summer, nor should he think of buying a quantity of baking powder sufficient to last him the same length of time. More is lost to the consumer in the purchase of old baking powders than in the purchase of most other articles.

"We have found that the quantity of available carbon dioxide in baking powder is out of all proportion to the prices of the different brands.

"An analysis of several brands shows the variation all the way from 2 per cent to 12 per cent. In one instance, in the same brand, we found that the variation was all the way from 42 per cent to 12 per cent, the low percentage invariably being in the old product. We have not recorded these analyses for the reason that the law does not provide for such information.

"From a hygienic standpoint, much has been written on the relative value of alum baking powders, phosphate baking powders, and cream of tartar baking powders. All baking

powders have one constituent in common, viz., bicarbonate of soda, or common cooking soda, from which the available carbon dioxide is derived by the chemical action on this carbonate of some acid or acid salt.

"In the alum baking powder, this second constituent is some kind of alum, usually in the form of a double sulphate of aluminium and sodium. When alum and bicarbonate of soda react, carbon dioxide gas is liberated, which is the leavening principle. There is also formed at the same time a sulphate of sodium and a hydroxide of aluminium.

"In a phosphate powder, we have, in addition to the bicarbonate of soda, calcium acid phosphate usually. When these two chemicals react, carbon dioxide gas is liberated and a residue is left, consisting of sodium and calcium phosphate. "In a cream of tartar baking powder, in addition to the bicarbonate of soda, there is a cream of tartar or tartaric acid. When tartaric acid is used, carbon dioxide is liberated and a residue of sodium tartrate is formed. When cream of tartar is used in place of the tartaric acid, carbon dioxide is liberated and there is a residue of sodium and potassium

tartrate.

"Then the question arises, which of the following residues left in bread is injurious, or which is the most injurious, or which is the least injurious?

"Sulphate of soda and aluminius hydroxide are residues of alum powder.

"Monohydrogen phosphate and disodium phosphate are residues of phosphate powder.

"Residue of cream of tartar baking powder is sodium potassium tartrate.

"Residue of tartaric acid baking powder is sodium tar

trate.

"Of course, if these residues could be eliminated altogether, a most desirable end would be reached; but, as this can not be done, we must choose between them and take the lesser of the evils. Those who manufacture cream of tartar baking powders continually decry the use of alum and phosphate powders. By referring to Wood's "TherapeuticsIts Principles and Practice," we find the following description of aluminium hydroxide: "It is a feebly astringent, desiccant powder in inflammatory conditions of the skin."

"It should be understood, however, that when aluminium hydroxide is heated, as it is in a baking oven, it is changed to the insoluble oxide of aluminium. In this form it could have no worse physiological effect than the same quantity of any other insoluble compound, and it is extremely improbable that it produces any bad effect at all on the system, being in as small a quantity as it naturally is in bread. At any rate, we have no knowledge to the effect from any scientific

source.

"The same authority as was quoted above has the following to say in regard to the residues of tartaric acid and cream of tartar baking powders:

"Sodium potassium tartrate is a mild, saline purgative, decidedly less efficient, but much less offensive to the palate than Epsom salt. Kleeburg finds that it produces a marked fall in the blood-pressure of a dog when given in a dose of thirty milligrams per kilogram of the weight of the dog. A toxic dose produces a fatal diastalic arrest of the heart. 'Sodium tartrate, the residue of tartaric acid baking powders, produces a rise in the blood-pressure.'

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"The quantity of cream of tartar baking powder residues left in bread is so small that as a matter of course it would not produce the fatal results as described above.

"From the foregoing facts, it seems absurd to us that so much pure food literature of an unfavorable nature to alum baking powders, has been published. Even the manufacturers of cream of tartar baking powders have endeavored, and are still endeavoring, to create a prejudice against the use of alum baking powders, in order to increase their own business. This method of advertising seems to be peculiar to such manufacture. The public is aware that it is an extremely uncommon thing for one merchant to advertise the defects of his competitor's goods to further the sale of his own goods.

"An indication of this vicious method of advertising is shown in the following advertisement of one brand of cream of tartar baking powder :

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* baking powder for nearly a half century has been giving the people pure food-long before a pure food law was thought out for either State or Nation. Made from Grapes-Pure and Healthful. No Alum-No Phosphates. Chemical tests show that alum baking powders leave unBe changed alum, an injurious metallic acid, in the food.

on your guard. Alum powders may be known by their price. -10 or 25 cents a pound, or one cent an ounce.'

"The first absurdity in the above advertising matter is that that baking powder was made from grapes. This, of course, is absurd, for the reason that there was only one product in the baking powder that could have come from grapes, and this did not come from grapes in their natural state, but was one of the products resulting from the fermentation of the grape juice. The second absurdity is that alum baking powders leave unchanged alum in the food in which it is used. This may or may not be true; it depends altogether upon whether or not the ingredients of an alum baking powder have been mixed in the proper proportion.

"Another absurdity is that alum is an injurious metallic acid. It is true that aluminium hydroxide shows both a basic and acid nature, but its acid properties are not at all so pronounced as might be inferred from the advertisement.

"The difference in price between the alum and phosphate powders, on one hand, and the cream of tartar powders, on the other hand, is so great that there should be some positive scientific evidence that alum baking powders are injurious, before any legal action should be taken against them. As long as we have poor people, and the millennium does not appear very near to us, the question of the cost of staple food products will always be an important consideration.

"The simple fact that an article is cheap does not argue per se that it is injurious."

One of the noticeable features of the work of the Texas Food Commissioner during his first term of office is the discovery that many soft drinks sold in bottles contain cocaine. Cocaine was found in "cel ery cola," koca nola," "coke," "kos kola," "coca celery" and "coca celery extract."

The exposure of this one detestable deleterious adulteration will repay the state many times the cost of administration.

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Thank you very much for your notice on page 19 of your edition of March 15, 1909. Had a journal such as your's had anything favorable to say about me, I should have said, "What rascality have I been up to now?”

You very truly say in your article that "neither the Northwestern University nor the California University will claim to be much better than Columbia." As regards being the servants and exponents of the Capitalist Class there is hardly an exception among the colleges and universities in the United States. They are all owned and controlled in the interests of Capitalism, and their teachings are always against the Working Class. In their fear and hatred of the Working Class they do not hesitate to teach the meanest and most outrageous slanders and lies about that class. I am a college graduate myself and know whereof I speak.

Take George F. Baer's remark, "The interests of the workingman will not be looked after by the labor agitator but by the Christian men to whom God in His infinite wisdom has entrusted the property interests of this country." Could anything be more blasphemous?

Take Theodore Roosevelt's article on "Socialism" in the "Outlook" of March 20th. Would it be possible to crowd more lies in any article of the same length? And ought not any schoolboy be ashamed to write such a mass of trash? The lies show the pot-house politician while the ignorance displayed show what the colleges are teaching.

Take Roosevelt's illegal appointment of the so-called "experts" on Benzoate of Soda, which illegal commission was in consequence of the reiterated demands of the food poisoners. Whether legal or illegal the decision must stand because Cortelyou, the tool and lick-spital of Wall street; Wilson, the tool of the whole Capitalist Class, and Straus, the sweater of child labor, say that it must stand.

Take Fatty Taft's illegal appointment of MacVeagh, who according to your own list of law violators, has been guilty of violating the very laws he swears to uphold. Take the list of the most respectable wholesale grocers in the United States which you publish as wilful violators of the laws. Do these things mean nothing to you?

Or are you so stupid that you do not recognize the fact that there is a world-wide struggle between the Capitalist Class and the Working Class working through the Socialist Party and that this struggle will not end except with the total extinction of the whole Capitalist System?

I am enclosing you a little pamphlet with my compliments. This was written for the infant class and will therefore interest you.

After the Working Class own and operate all land, mines, oil wells, railroads and other means of transportation and all the means of production, including factories, etc., in short, when the working class owns the Trusts instead of the Trusts owning the country as they do at present, we shall have no use for "The American Food Journal" because food will then be produced for use and not for sale and profit, and the men now engaged in defending the food poisoners will be compelled to do some useful work or go hungry.

Until that time, which probably you and I will live to see, good bye, and if at any time you see a chance to print anything unfavorable about me I shall consider it a great compliment if you will do so.

DANIEL KISSAM YOUNG.

Yours for the Socialist Revolution, Narberth, Pa., March 31, 1909.

THE PLAIN TRUTH.

It looks as if the notoriety-seeking Dr. Wiley would have to go, in spite of his strenuous efforts to secure flattering indorsements from those who feared him and from those who sought his favors. Starting out with a good purpose as the father of the pure-food law, Dr. Wiley tangled its administration by so many needless technicalities that he bid fair to become its undertaker as well as its progenitor. What the people want is the enforcement of every feature of the law that safeguards the wholesomeness and purity of our foods. They do not want absurd, fantastic, and changeable rulings, not embodied in the law, and not affecting the wholesomeness or healthfulness of what we eat and drink. It is unfortunate that Dr. Wiley did not realize this important fact a little earlier.-Leslie's Weekly.

CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS FOR CHEMISTS,

Assistant Chemist (Male). Office of Public Roads, Department of Agriculture May 5, 1909.

The United States Civil Service Commission announces an examination on May 5, 1909, at the places mentioned in the list printed herein, to secure eligibles from which to make certification to fill at least two vacancies in the position of assistant chemist (male), at salaries ranging from $1,400 to $2,200 per annum, in the Office of Public Roads, Department of Agriculture, and vacancies requiring similar qualifications as they may occur.

The examination will consist of the subjects mentioned below, weighted as indicated:

Subjects.

Weights.

1. Elementary chemistry, including physical chemistry.... 10 2. Analytical chemistry, qualitative and quantitative

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10

40

20

5. Training and experience (rated on application form).. 20 Total

100

More than one day may be required for this examination. Age limit, 20 years or over on the date of the examination.

This examination is open to all citizens of the United States who comply with the requirements.

This announcement contains all information which is communicated to applicants regarding the scope of the examination, the vacancy or vacancies to be filled, and the qualifications required.

Applicants should at once apply either to the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C., or to the secretary of the board of examiners at any place mentioned in the list printed hereon, for application Form 1312. No application will be accepted unless properly executed and filed with the Commission at Washington. In applying for this examination the exact title as given at the head of this announcement should be used in the application.

As examination papers are shipped direct from the Commission to the places of examination, it is necessary that applications be received in ample time to arrange for the examination desired at the place indicated by the applicant. The Commission will therefore arrange to examine any applicant whose application is received in time to permit the shipment of the necessary papers. Issued March 27, 1909.

Food and Drug Inspector (Male). Bureau of Chemistry, Department of Agriculture. May 5-6, 1909.

The United States Civil Service Commission announces an examination on May 5-6, 1909, at the places mentioned in the list printed hereon, to secure eligibles from which to make certification to fill vacancies in the position of food and drug inspector (male), at salaries of $1,000 to $1.800 per annum, in the Bureau of Chemistry, Department of Agriculture.

As a result of this examination three registers will be established, depending upon the experience shown, from which certification shall be made to (1) food inspector, (2) drug inspector, and (3) food and drug inspector. The practical questions will be the same for all classes.

Men only will be admitted to this examination.

The examination will consist of the subjects mentioned below, weighted as indicated:

Subjects.

1. Practical questions

2. Spelling (twenty words of more than average culty)

Weights.

40

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3. Arithmetic (fundamental rules, fractions, percentage, interest, discount, and analysis).

4. Penmanship (the handwriting of the competitor in the subject of letter-writing will be considered with special reference to the elements of legibility, rapidity, neatness, general appearance, etc.)...

5. Letter-writing (a letter of not less than 150 words on some subject of general interest. Competitors may select either of two subjects given).

6

3

10

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The practical questions will be given on the first day, and the remaining subjects on the second day.

Competitors who fail to attain a rating of at least 70 per cent in the practical questions will not be eligible for appointment, and the remaining subjects will not be rated.

Under the subject of experience credits will be given for experience in inspection service, especially the inspection of foods and drugs, and also for any other experience which would tend to qualify competitors for the performance of the duties of food and drug inspectors.

It is expected that appointees will be assigned to different States, and they will be required to go from one place to another as the performance of their duties require. All traveling expenses while on duty will be paid by the Department. Age limit, 20 to 45 years on the date of the examination. This examination is open to all citizens of the United States who comply with the requirements.

This announcement contains all information which is communicated to applicants regarding the scope of the examination, the vacancy or vacancies to be filled, and the qualifications required.

Applicants should at once apply either to the United States Civil Service Commission, Washington, D. C., or to the secretary of the board of examiners at any place mentioned in the list printed hereon, for application Form 1312. No application will be accepted unless properly executed and filed with the Commission at Washington. In applying for this examination the exact title as given at the head of this announcement should be used in the application.

As examination papers are shipped direct from the Commission to the places of examination, it is necessary that applications be received in ample time to arrange for the examination desired at the place indicated by the applicant. The Commission will therefore arrange to examine any applicant whose application is received in time to permit the shipment of the necessary papers.

Issued March 26, 1909.

DRASTIC LIQUOR LAW IN WASHINGTON STATE. The Legislature of the State of Washington, at its last session, amended its Criminal Code by the addition of two sections, Nos. 443 and 444. The new law was signed by the Governor and goes into effect on June 12th of this year. Steps will at once be taken, however, to test the validity of the new law. The sections referred to are as follows:

Section 443 as amended: Every person who as a principal, agent or otherwise, shall sell or offer for sale any spirituous or distilled intoxicating liquors known as whiskey, except Scotch or Irish whiskey, any part of which has not been aged for a period of four years in wooden barrels or casks, or who shall as principal agent or otherwise, sell or offer for sale any malt liquor that has not been aged for more than sixty days or which contains more than 8 per cent alcohol by weight, shall be guilty of a gross misdemeanor.

Section 444 as amended: Every person who by mixing, compounding or distilling low or ardent spirits, or who by adding thereto any flavoring or other substance shall produce, or who shall sell or offer for sale, or have in his possession with intent to sell, any liquor known as whiskey, gin or brandy so produced, shall be guilty of a gross misde

meanor.

GERMAN CITY ENCOURAGES FAMILY GARDENING.

Consul-General Richard Guenther reports that to encourage gardening among the working classes the city authorities of Frankfort leased at a very low rent small tracts of land belonging to the city. Although there are about 36 acres of municipal land let out for that purpose, divided among 258 different parties and to the association for promoting gardening on a small scale. Besides this. a tract of about 4 acres of municipal land has been let for the same purpose to the employes of the city's tramways and electric works. The city will devote additional land for small gardening as the demand and utility for such will increase. These little gardens are a great source of contentment to the leaseholders and their women and children, who take much interest in working and planting therein. (This system is also in vogue in Berlin and other German cities.-B. of M.)

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The President and other statesmen in conference fail to decide on an answer to the question, 'What is whisky?" and call upon Solicitor General Bowers to solve the puzzle-News Item

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