BUREAU OF CHEMISTRY. 439 



use may cause the loss of invaluable time at the only stage when can- 

 cer is believed to be amenable to radical treatment, namely, the very 

 earliest stage. Another cancer "cure" was found to consist essen- 

 tially of potassium iodid, an agent which is frequently employed in 

 the treatment of syphilitic affections. It often forms a part or " cures " 

 of this kind, its use being really directed to the relief of syphilitic 

 troubles which are erroneously believed to be of a cancerous nature. 

 The Post Oflice Department has issued nearly a dozen fraud orders 

 in this class of cases and as a result the mail-order cancer cure busi- 

 ness has practically been suppressed in this country. 



Two consumption "cures" were investigated. Both were fouu ! 

 to contain ordinary medicinal agents which might perhaps have .i 

 temporary and palliative effect in relieving the distressmg symptoms cf 

 the disease, but which can not in any proper sense be considered as 

 cures for consumption. Millions of dollars are spent annually to 

 retard the progress of pulmonary tuberculosis, but it is well known 

 that there is at present no specific for its treatment. Anyone engaged 

 in exploiting a so-called consumption "cure" is simply traffickmg in 

 the hfe and health of the people, smce the time lost in such a way may 

 result in the death of the victim by delapng the use of proper hygienic 

 measures. 



In addition, there were investigated disguised treatments for the 

 prevention of conception and for the production of abortion, for the 

 restoration of hearing, and for the cure of rheumatism, and other 

 diseases. 



STUDIES OF FOODS AND FOOD MATERIALS. 

 SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS OF THR DIVISION OF FOODS. 



FRUIT PRODUCTS. 



The economic studies relating to fruit products have been con- 

 tinued in cooperation with the pomologist m charge of field investi- 

 gations of the Bureau of Plant Industry. In connection with the 

 study of the utilization of surplus fruit the yield of juices made in 

 different ways from various fruits has been studied on a scale suffi- 

 ciently large to be easily extended to commercial proportions. 

 Special attention has been given to the causes of the disappearance of 

 flavor in the juices of citrus fruits after sterdization. The preparation 

 of dried sugared pineapples has been studied on a scale large enough 

 to secure data applicable on a commercial basis. The investigation 

 of the ripening of persimmons without softening has been continued 

 and has shown that this can be best effected by confining the fruit in a 

 closed space in an atmosphere of carbon dioxid. Thus far the experi- 

 ments have been conducted on a laboratory scale, but field work is 

 planned for the coming season as a result of which it is beheved that 

 definite directions can be given for commercial processing by the 

 grower. 



• A study of the respiration of fruits as an index of their physiological 

 activities has .been continued and extended to cover the effect of 

 temperature on the vital processes. It has been found that various 

 fruits differ widelv in their rate of respiration, but that they are 

 similarly affected by changes in temperature. The respiration in all 



