COPPER-GREENING IN FRANCE. 1055 



perceptible, and the salts are not only tolerated but absorbed. Workers in copper 

 are often completely saturated with the metal, but do not suffer from it. Experiments 

 on the animal and human subject have never given a worse result than vomiting or 

 a temporary fit of colic. 



Copper normally exists in the human body. It gains entrance from various foods 

 and drinks in the absence of all adulteration. It accumulates to a certain extent, 

 but injury from this accumulation is unknown. 



In the samples submitted copper exists to an extent varying between 16 and 45 mg 

 per kilo. 



In conclusion, we will state that the amount of copper sulphate in the samples sub- 

 mitted to us does not constitute an adulteration, but that the presence of any copper 

 whatever is illegal. The quantity found by us does not constitute a danger to 

 health. 



As a result of this investigation the procureur directed that the suits 

 against the retailers be dropped. A letter to the prefect of police rela- 

 tive to the matter concludes, however, with the following words : 



Under the circumstances I submit to you the report of the expert committee, and 

 beg of you to resubmit the question, if you think it advisable, to the Conseil d'hy- 

 gie"ne. 



In accordance with this request the conseil formed a new committee 

 of three, consisting of MM. Poggiale, Pasteur, and Brouardel. M. Pog- 

 giale, however, died before the completion of the committee's labors. 

 The committee 1 submitted a report, of which an abstract follows: 



The commission is of the opinion that the Government should not assume the 

 responsibility of allowing the use of copper salts in food unless the public be made 

 aware of the fact. Discussion of the toxic effect of copper salts in this or that dose 

 has been going on for a long time. Carefully conducted experiments have been 

 made to show that copper salts are inoffensive and with apparent success. But all 

 conclusions drawn from these experiments are applicable only to the circumstances 

 under which they were conducted, and go only to show that this or that animal, 

 this or that human being is insensitive to the action of copper salts. Generaliza- 

 tions are dangerous. 



Similar answers must be made to the question of the propriety of allowing the use 

 of benzoic acid, salicylic acid, and the like in food. 



There is but one way for the Government and French industry honorably to escape 

 responsibility in this respect, and that is to require a frank declaration in each case 

 where foreign substances are added to food. For instance, " Petits pois conserve's par 

 tel ou tel ingredient" (peas preserved with this or that substance). 



Manufacturers would be at perfect liberty to attach any explanation they desired 

 in the nature of expert testimony as to the harmlessness of the substance used. 



Let the industry defend itself. It can not demand that the Government give it 

 authority for such practices when such a concession would make the Government 

 pronounce authoritatively upon questions of hygiene as yet unsettled by science. 



The commission recommends that the Government tolerate the artificial greening 

 of peas upon the condition that on each package shall be legibly printed the name, 

 of the agent employed. 



The report was adopted by the Conseil. 



Evidently, however, this report did not cause universal satisfaction, 

 since on February 2, 1880, the minister of commerce and agriculture 



1 Brouardel, rapporteur, Verdissage desjconserves alimentaires au moyen des sels 

 de cuivre. Rapport de MM. Pasteur, Poggiale, et Brouardel. Ann. d'hyg. publ., 

 1880, [3], 3, 193. 



