BUREAU OF ANIMAL INDUSTRY. 243 



igRoranco or carelessness and not to intentional violation of the 

 regulations on the part of inspected establishments. As in the pre- 

 ceding fiscal year, it was found that the most frequent violation of 

 the regulations consisted in the use of cereal substances in sausages 

 and similar products without proper declaration on the labels, and as 

 a result of giving special attention to this matter considerable 

 improvement was noted toward the end of the fiscal year. Not infre- 

 quently lards otherwise apparently pure have been found to give a 

 positive Halphen reaction for cottonseed oil, but in almost every 

 case the amount indicated was extremely small, and it appears from 

 investigations made in the laboratories and hereinafter described that 

 this condition results from the feeding of cottonseed products to hogs 

 before slaughter. 



During the year 231 sanitary anah^ses of water supplies were made. 

 These examinations included a study of the surroundings of each 

 water supply and also a chemical and bacteriological analysis. As 

 a result of these examinations the bureau has ordered the discon- 

 tinuance of 19 different water supplies which were found to be un- 

 suitable for use on meat food products, and in all cases water supplies 

 of undoubted wholesomeness have been substituted. 



Twelve samples involving five alleged violations of the meat- 

 inspection law were examined in the laborator}'^. The laboratory 

 examinations sustained the findings of the inspector in all cases. 

 The facts were reported to the department solicitor for appropriate 

 action. 



During the year 3,560 gallons of branding ink prepared in the 

 Biochemic Division was shipped to inspectors in charge of meat 

 inspection. The total cost of this ink, including materials, labor, 

 and containers for shipment, was S 1,3 10. 



RESEARCH WORK. 



The character of the research work carried out in connection with 

 the laboratory inspection of meats has naturally been governed in 

 great part by the questions which have arisen as a result of the 

 routine work. A great number of difl'erent problems have received 

 attention. The more important work of this kind is briefly described 

 as follows: 



In collaboration with the referee on food adulteration of the 

 Association of Official Agricultural Chemists a number of analyses of 

 samples of lards and other fats were made with the object of deterr 

 mining the most satisfactoiy means of detecting adulterations of 

 these products. This work has been completed, and the results are 

 in the hands of the referee. 



Under the meat-inspection regulations packers are permitted to use 

 seven coal-tar dyes for coloring the outer casings of sausage, provided 

 the color is applied m such a way as not to penetrate the casing. The 

 laboratories have received man}^ samples or proprietary coloring mix- 

 tures supposed to consist of two or more of the seven ))ermitted colors. 

 As no method for separating coal-tar colors in mixtures had ever been 

 devised, it was necessary for some procedure of this kind to be worked 

 out in order to determine whether or not mixtures proposed for use 

 on sausage casings were actually composed of the ^^even permitted 

 colors and no others, l^esearch work by Dr. T. M. Price, in charire 

 of the Washington laboratory, resulted iu the developinent of a 



