COPPER-GREENING IN FRANCE. 1059 



On May 20, 1881, M. Tirard, the minister of agriculture arid com- 

 merce, addressed a circular 1 to tlie prefects of police, calling their 

 attention to the copper laws. Abstracted, it reads as follows : 



At this time, when the preparations for the season's packing of fruits and legumes 

 are under way, I wish to call attention to the fact that the greening of these foods 

 by means of salts or vessels of copper is formally prohibited. 



It ia important that this prohibition be once more brought to the attention of the 

 canners and retailers. They have lately obtained some opinions favorable to the 

 copper process, but the Comite" d'hygiene considering the question anew has decided 

 that it should not be allowed by reason of the danger which it may present to pub- 

 lic health. 



The Comite" was influenced in demanding the continuance of the interdiction of 

 the copper process by the fact that other prooessea exist which are in successful 

 operation in large factories. 



Therefore I invite you to inform the packers and retailers of your department 

 that they expose themselves to risk of prosecution if they green vegetables by 

 means of copper. 



M. Tirard issued a further circular on June 28, 1882. It appears 

 that retailers prosecuted under the instructions of the previous circu- 

 lar had set up the successful defense that they were not mentioned in 

 the law of 1860, which prohibited simply the use of copper in greening 

 vegetables, and not the sale of such goods. This circular in substance 

 read as follows : 



This interpretation is against the spirit of the law and against the interests of 

 pablic health and can not be allowed. 



You [prefects of police] are therefore instructed to insert after (1) of the old law? 



"It is forbidden to all retailers or dealers to sell, or place on sale, preserves so 

 prepared. " 



Probably as a result of the enforcement of the provisions of these 

 circulars, though this is not shown by the accessible records, the sub- 

 ject was once more brought before the Comite*, 2 for in 1882 a fresh 

 report was submitted to it. M. Gallard was again reporter. He was 

 evidently getting tired of the ceaseless protests of the canners, for his 

 report was severe and to the point. It was as follows : 



Gentlemen, the question of greening preserved legumes is once more before the 

 Comite", and we can not hope for the last time; for, however wise, however just the 

 course which the Government will pursue as a result of our deliberations, it can not 

 fail to injure certain interests, which will as usual unite in alleging persecution and 

 demanding revision of our decisions. The Comite" in 1881, as a result of most careful 

 investigation, recommended the renewal of the prohibitions placed upon the cop- 

 pering process twenty years before, the principal reason given being the discovery 

 of satisfactory and harmless processes for obtaining the same results. 



This was not enough for the canners, who have fallen into the habit of using salts 

 of copper and do not wish to change, finding the old process more convenient and 

 somewhat more economical. Two of the members of the trade, desirous of satisfy- 

 ing the requirements of the Government, have made the necessary sacrifices in seek- 

 ing out a new process by which they can procure without salts of copper the green 



1 Recueil des trav. du Comit6 consultatif d'hygiene publique, 1883, 13, 431 and 432. 

 2 Recueil des trav. du Comite" consultatif d'hygiene publique, 1882, 12, 270. 



