a 
; 
19 
Accepting, then, 0.5 gram as the maximum amount of copper in any 
of the forms discussed that may with safety be daily absorbed, let us 
see how these figures compare with the quantity of this metal found in 
connection with properly sprayed fruits as well as some other foods and 
drinks. Analyses to determine the amount of copper onsprayed grapes 
have been made in Germany, France, America, and other countries. 
The result of all these show that grapes sprayed intelligently rarely 
contain more than 5 milligrams (0.005 gram) of copper per kilogram, 
the average being from 24 to 3 milligrams per kilogram. In other 
words, 1,000,000 pounds of grapes sprayed in the usual way with the 
Bordeaux mixture would contain from 24 to 5 pounds of copper. Tore- 
duce the figures still further, each 1,000 pounds of fruit would contain 
17.5 to 35.0 grains of copper. On this basis an adult may eat from 300 
to 500 pounds of sprayed grapes per day without fear of ill effects from 
the copper. This shows how ridiculously absurd are the statements 
that fruits properly sprayed with the Bordeaux mixture or any other 
copper compound are poisonous. 
Turning our attention to another phase of the subject, let us con- 
sider some other articles of food and drink in no way connected with 
spraying. In the first place, it has recently been shown that grapes 
which have never been treated with any fungicide may contain 
as much as 2 milligrams of copper per kilogram—two parts in a mil- 
lion, or practically the same as the average amount found in con- 
nection with sprayed fruit. Finding copper, therefore, in connection 
with fruit is no indication that such fruit has been sprayed with the 
copper compounds. Perhaps if this fact is remembered in the future it 
may prevent hasty conclusions and consequent annoyance. 
According to numerous analyses wheat may contain from 4 to 10 
milligrams of copper per kilogram, the average being 7.2 milligrams 
per kilogram. The United States exported to Europe and other for- 
eign countries in 1890, 54,387,767 bushels of wheat, weighing approxi 
mately 3,263,266,020 pounds or 1,480,217,466 kilograms. If each kilo- 
gram of wheat contained 7.2 milligrams of copper, then there were 10,657 
kilograms or 23,495 pounds of this metal sent out of the country in wheat 
alone. In the face of these figures we do not see how any foreign coun- 
try can logically object to American fruits on the ground that they con- 
tain copper without also objecting to wheat. 
Wheat, however, does not contain anything like as much copper as 
some other foods and drinks. Beef and sheep liver, according to reliable 
and repeated analyses, contain respectively from 56 to 58 and 35 to 41 
milligrams of metallic copper per kilogram of fresh substance, while in 
chocolate the enormous amount of 125 milligrams to the kilogram has 
been found. In conclusion, it is only necessary to call attention to one 
other matter to show how unjust and discriminating it would be to con- 
demn American fruits on the ground that they contain copper in un- 
wholesome quantities. Brief reference has already been made to the 
re-greening of vegetables, as practiced by the French. Peas, beans, 
