302 FOOD AND FOOD ADULTERANTS. 



tation after the beer is sent out. I have for some time been aware of this use of 

 salicylic acid, as well as its addition to wines, canned fruits, cider, milk, and other 

 goods, for the purpose of preserving them from fermentation. In fact, the use of this 

 acid is coming into such general use in foods that it is becoming an important sani- 

 tary question as to its effects upon health when used in small quantities for a long 

 time. There can be no doubt that in large quantities it acts very injuriously both 

 upon the digestive processes and the kidneys. In its elimination the kidneys not 

 rarely become acutely congested or even inflamed, giving rise to acute Bright's disease. 

 Although a potent remedy in the treatment of acute rheumatism, it is riot suitable 

 for long admiustration, owing to the above injurious action. It requires the addi- 

 tion of from eight to ten grains of free salicylic acid to one gallon of beer in order to 

 prevent the growth of ferments. If bicarbonate of soda, has also been added, the 

 quantity of acid necessary to be added is much more. Three grains have recently 

 been found in each pint of wine. Assuming that the smallest effective proportion of 

 the acid is used, viz, ten grains to the gallon, there are many persona in this city 

 who take no inconsiderable amount of this drug every day of their adult lives. The 

 salicylic acid of the market is prepared from carbolic acid, and is frequently contam- 

 inated with a small proportion of this very poisonous agent. This is a well known 

 fact to all pharmacists. The sanitary question, then, rests upon the question of the 

 action of small and long continued doses of salicylic acid, possibly contaminated with 

 carbolic acid." 



" Upon this point I think it necessary to quote here but one of many authorities. 

 In 1881, and again in 1883, upon the recommendation of the Central Committee of 

 Hygiene, the French Government prohibited the sale of articles of food contain- 

 ing salicylic acid. As protests were made against this legislation, and as these 

 protests had led to contradictory judicial decisions, the above committee re- 

 quested the opinion of the French Academy of Medicine. A commission created by 

 that body of savants has recently made a report (Bulletin do 1'Acad. de Med., Paris, 

 1886, T. XVI., pp. 583 et seq.), from which the following is an extract: 'While in 

 persons of good health the prolonged use of such small quantities of salicylic acid as 

 would be contained in articles of food or drink treated with this substance is proba- 

 bly not injurious to health, it may nevertheless produce very decided disorders of 

 health in certain persons, and especially in the aged and in those who have a tendency 

 to diseased kidneys or dyspepsia. Salicylic acid and its salts are eliminated by the 

 kidneys. They tend somewhat to check the action of the digestive ferments con- 

 tained in the saliva, enteric juice, and pancreatic fluid, and hence to delay digestion; 

 hence it is easy to understand that they may aggravate digestive or renal troubles." 



"The report closes with the recommendation that the addition of salicylic acid or 

 its compounds, even in small amounts, to articles of food or drink shall be absolutely 

 prohibited by law. This commission found by their investigation that the quantities 

 added to wine were about six grains to the gallon, and to beer from twelve to fifteen 

 grains." 



" From the facts hero stated I am of the opinion that it is time that the addition of 

 salicylic acid to articles of food received a chock at the hands of sanitary authorities. 

 I have made examinations of several different kinds of bottled beers manufactured 

 and sold in this city, and have found a number of them to contain salicylic acid. The 

 list examined contained some of the Western beer.s, which were also found to contain 

 it. I would respectfully recommend that some action bo taken by this Department 

 towards the prohibition of this injurious adulteration. 

 " Respectfully, 



"E. II. BARTLKY, M. D., Cttiif Cln-mist." 



