62 ANNUAL REPORT. OF THE Off. Doc. 



The tiafiic is an uumitigated evil and as defenceless as the traffic 

 in adulterated foods. The vile business is also a menace to health, 

 and there is no excuse for its toleration. Huch legislation is an im- 

 mediate necessity, and the proper law, when approved, could be 

 placed under the administration of the State Live Stock Sanitary 

 Board for enforcement. 



HOW EPICURES ARE DECEIVED. 



The epicure who spends money freely for potted canvas-back and 

 turkey is not always certain as to the true character of his feast. 

 During the past year a number of well-founded complaints detail- 

 ing the sales of immature veal reached this office. Affidavits were 

 also filed to the effect that in certain localities two-days old calves 

 were slaughtered and shipped in bales and boxes so as to hide them 

 from the public. Some of these calves weighed less than twenty 

 pounds, the meat being soft, while the bones had the consistency 

 of gristle. Physicians, as well as the pure food authorities, declared 

 that such meat was not only repulsive and unwholesome, but ex- 

 tremely dangerous to health. A careful examination revealed the 

 fact that the bulk of this objectionable "bob" or "monkey-veal" was 

 consigned to canneries located in adjoining states, whose health 

 authorities were promptly notified of the existing conditions. 



ARTIFICIALLY COLORED FOOD AND DRINK. 



The enforcement of the pure food laws of Pennsylvania has re- 

 sulted in a renewed agitation and discussion of the question of arti- 

 ficial colors in food and drink. It cannot be controverted that the ad- 

 dition of coloring matter to naturally colored foods, etc., is absolutely 

 unnecessary but a positive help in deceiving the buyers and con- 

 sumers. The colors so added, whether vegetable or of the numerous 

 coal-tar derivatives, are simply the adjuncts of adulteration, and can- 

 not possibly have a beneficial effect on either the wholesomeness or 

 palatability of the substances or articles to which they are applied. 

 Their presence is hardly ever acknowledged, and, although the actual 

 quantity added is generally small, yet some of the colors are decid- 

 edly powerful in their action, and even in minute doses, through fre- 

 quent or constant use, are almost certain to produce serious effects 

 upon health. Both physiological and analytical experts testified to 

 these statements during recent court trials in which a strong defense 

 was made without success. 



PURE AND FRESH ARTICLES OF FOOD. 



It is reported that Senator Stewart, of Nevada, during a speech 

 delivered in the United States Senate advocating pure and fresh 

 articles of food, asserted that the adulteration of food is "sapping 

 the health of the people of the United States," and that "the preserva- 

 tion of it in cold storage and by use of chemicals has, perhaps, even 

 a worse effect." From his statement, it appears that "4.5,000,000 

 eggs are in cold storage at Chicago, and are sold for 38 cents a 

 dozen, though they were purchased last spring for 15 cents to 17 

 cents a dozen. Millions of chickens and turkeys are killed in August 

 and September and stored, and are now sold in the markets of the 

 leading cities. Fish now sold, as a rule, were caught months ago. 



