No. 6. - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 59 



adulteration and fraudulent practices on the part of unscrupulous manufactur- 

 ers. The reputable trade favors a rigid enforcement of the pure food laws, and 

 declares that they are an emphatic success. A leading grocer stated that he 

 had no idea how far away from decency the grocery trade had drifted in the 

 matter of serving up g-oods that would sell, rather than goods that were 

 wholesome and entirely suited to health. Manufacturers had evidently been 

 blinding themselves to the real welfare of the consumer in their race to put 

 out cheap goods that would sell best, bleaching, coloring, flavoring and pre- 

 serving them until the danger and fraud brought about a storm of pure food 

 legislation to stop the evil. It was this over-stepping of rights and proprieties 

 that compelled a halt, and brought about the present rational adjustment, 

 which means nothing more than that food products shall be sold as far as 

 practicable as nature made them, leaving them with their natural flavor and 

 color, and telling the truth on the labels under which they may be sold. 



In many foreign countries, including Germany, France and others the most 

 vigorous regulations are in full force for the prevention of the danger arising 

 to the public health from the importation, preparation, storage and adulterated 

 distribution of articles of food. He who makes an article cleaner, purer and 

 better, whether under the compulsory conditions surrounding the enforcement 

 of pure food laws, or through his own volition, is a public benefactor. It may 

 require courage to do what is right, but the righteousness of the cause should 

 appeal to all directly concerned, whether manufacturer, jobber or retailer. 



SOPHISTRY OF CERTAIN FOOD PRODUCERS. 



Perhaps the most striking feature of the latter-day sophisticator of foods is 

 his rare knowledge of the requirements of both National and State laws, and his 

 great skill in evading them. He is well aware of the careful tests that are 

 being made by chemists, and to escape them or to mislead investigators. Na- 

 ture and commerce are ransacked for new products, new methods and any- 

 thing that will enhance the plans of the adulterator. Generally speaking, the 

 pure food officials have stopped grosser forms of adulteration, and by a care- 

 ful research and subsequent prosecution as each new evil was discovered, they 

 have practically driven impure goods out of the State. 



A peculiar feature of the office work has been its interesting and varied cor- 

 respondence. While there is no valid objection to supplying all the information 

 that is practicable, the tone of some of the letters show plainly the thinly dis- 

 guised object the writers had in mind when framing certain inquiries. In other 

 words, some of the correspondents desire expressions of opinion with a pur- 

 pose of determining just how far they dare go without subjecting their goods 

 to condemnation and themselves to prosecution. The line of demarcation is 

 often too narrow for safety, and correspondents are advised accordingly. A 

 copy of the act of June 1st, 1907, is invariably supplied in response to requests 

 for information. 



DUTY OF PRESERVING HEALTH AND LIFE. 



The Board of Trade of the City of New York recently adopted a resolution that 

 is far more expressive than the average book upon the same subject. The 

 resolution reads as follows: 



"Health and the protection of life are more precious to the people, and more 

 necessary to their happiness than even the extension of our commerce, the 

 fostering of our agricultural interests, the solving of our financial problems, the 

 cheapness or efficiency of our postal service, the improvement of our rivers 

 and harbors, or the enlargement of our navy." 



Another publication reverts to the fact that over eight millions of our people 

 living to-day will die of tuberculosis; that six millions of our present population 

 will die of diseases of the heart and kidneys, and that of the same population, 

 fully eight millions more will die of pneumonia. 



It is also stated that during the past ten years the National Department of 

 Agriculture spent forty-six millions in stamping out diseases of animals; in sav- 

 ing elm trees from the attacks of beetles; in warning farmers against potato 

 blight; in exterminating some of the many ills and annoyances incident to ag- 

 riculture, while the same government does not raise a hand to help the human 

 family in combatting disease and death, excepting in the restriction of the 

 manufacture and sale of adulterated articles of food and drink. The theme 

 is one of paramount importance, and its contemplation reveals the need of such 

 efficient co-laborers as the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Dairy and 

 Food Bureau recognizing their many opportunities for successful work for 

 the public good. 



CONVENTION OF NATIONAL AND STATE PURE FOOD OFFICERS. 



Pennsylvania was well represented at the Eleventh Annual Convention of Na- 

 tional and State Food and Dairy officials held at Jamestown, Virginia last July. 

 The Cominissioner of this State took part in the program of exercises. These 

 representatives assemble annually to consider plans for the betterment of their 



