BUEEAU OF CHEMISTRY. 4G9 



Divisiors and the inspection laboratories, as well as of other labora- 

 tories, such as the bacteriological and microchemical, dairy, sugar, 

 water, and cattle-feed laboratories, where these special subjects are 

 handled. The executive work in connection with tlie assignment and 

 checking of these investigations, and the preparation of recommen- 

 dations in regard to the findings, continue to ^row in volume and 

 compHcated problems are constantly arising which can only be met 

 by extensive investigations. The following are among the special 

 investigations to be made during this year: 



The detection and estimation of decayed stock used in fruit and 

 vegetable products will be studied in the chemical, bacteriological, 

 and microchemical laboratories from the several pomts of view, and 

 supplemented by factory experiments and inspection. The deteriora- 

 tion of fish and especially of canned sardines and salmon will also be 

 investigated. 



The presence of coal-tar dyes in food products of all kinds, especially 

 with reference to their contamination with deleterious ingredients 

 and to determine whether certified colors have been used, will form an 

 important line of work. Methods of detection will be further elabo- 

 rated and the application of the spectroscope to this work be studied. 



The investigation of cider vinegar and its adulterants, the com- 

 position of spices and materials used in their sophistication, and the 

 study of extracts and essential oils. used in their preparation such as 

 peppermint, wintergreen, and nutmeg, for the purpose of elaborating 

 methods that will enable the detection of the most carefully prepared 

 imitations, will all be continued. 



Among other miscellaneous food investigations which are to receive 

 special attention are the work on infant foods, including physiological 

 and chemical studies of commercial preparations and modifications 

 of the same; the composition of the common fruits and vegetables in 

 the fresh condition, changes in composition of domestic and imported 

 rice; wheat flours, edible gelatins, and such other studies as may be 

 called for by the exigencies of the inspection work. 



A new food and drug inspection laboratory is to be established at 

 San Juan, P. R., during this year for the more efficient protection of 

 the supphes of that territory. 



FIELD INVESTIGATIONS AND RESEARCHES ON POULTRY AND EGGS. 



The plans of the Food Research Laboratory include further studies, 

 especially during the heated term, of poultry chilled in water and in 

 cold air and shipped in ice or dry packed. The deep-seated changes 

 that the flesh undergoes when chilled by these different methods will 

 be more carefully and fully studied, certain prelimuiary results having 

 already been obtained along that line. 



The effect of temperature on flesh decomposition will be studied, 

 more attention now being given to individual phases of the subject, 

 such as the effect of long-continued cold on enzyms; the effect of 

 cold applied after retrograde changes have begun; the effect of ordi- 

 nary temperatures applied after long-continued cold, etc. ; all these 

 questions having already been submitted to preliminary work. Such 

 subjects must necessarily look chiefly to the laboratory for solution, 

 yet without the field station to provide samples of known liistory and 

 to make observations concerning environment, the scientific results 



