358 SCIENCE OF HOME AND COMMUNITY 



life, these preservatives are particularly dangerous to health. 

 Impure milk is an important factor in the large infant 

 mortality in our large cities. An official of the Health De- 

 partment of New York City said, "No doubt, if we could get 

 pure milk, mortality of infants would decrease fifty per cent." 



In recent years there has been considerable discussion 

 regarding the effects on the body of benzoate of soda. The 

 United States government has allowed this to be used in 

 certain small quantities as a preservative, but there are 

 serious doubts regarding the wisdom of this action. Dr. 

 Wiley (in experimenting with his poison squad) found that 

 this substance was injurious to the health of those taking 

 it. The general consensus of the best scientific and medical 

 opinion seems to be that the use of benzoate of soda as a 

 preservative of foods should not be allowed. 



One of the chief arguments against the use of all kinds 

 of coloring matters and preservatives lies in the fact that 

 their use makes it possible that substances be canned and 

 sold which are entirely unfit for food. For instance, in the 

 canning of tomatoes and catsups, if the substances are 

 allowed to stand too long or are not cared for in a clean way, 

 the mixture ferments and becomes unfit for food. But 

 by the use of some preservatives, such as benzoate of soda, 

 the fermentation may be stopped, and by adding coloring 

 matter the original color may be restored ; then the mixture 

 may be canned and sold. To outward appearances it may 

 seem like good clean food, while in reality it is entirely unfit 

 to be eaten. 



Condemned foods. Unfortunately the marketing of 

 spoiled foods is much commoner than is commonly sus- 

 pected. In the state of Missouri during the year 1912, the 

 food inspectors condemned and destroyed, as unfit for use, 

 the following foods which were offered for sale : 20 pounds 

 of candy, 80 cans of unwholesome milk, 125 pounds of 

 spoiled beans, 134 bottles of olives, 135 packages of break- 



