190 THOMPSON YATES LABORATORIES REPORT 
Sausages. As in the case of sterilized milk, condensed milk, and raw foods 
generally, so in the case of sausages it is all important that the ingredients should be 
pure, otherwise the spice simply masks the bacterial changes, and does not destroy 
the ptomaines or indeed injurious bacteria. Seventeen samples were examined, and the 
Bacillus coli obtained in six samples and the Bacillus enteritidis in fourteen samples. 
Tinned Meats, Fruits, and Vegetables. Ninety-four samples were examined, 
and in no case was either the Bacillus coli or Bacillus enteritidis sporogenes found. 
A few samples were not sterile. 
Pastes and Potted Meats. In only one case out of eleven samples was the 
Bacillus enteritidis sporogenes found. Nine out of eleven were not sterile. 
Cereals. Considerable interest attaches to the bacterial examination of these 
articles, because they are very liable to dust contamination. Thirteen samples were 
examined, of which four showed evidence of the Bacillus enteritidis sporogenes. No 
coli was found. 
Jams. Jams have shown a freedom from dangerous or danger indicating 
bacteria. Many are sterile. Those which are not sterile only contain a few bacteria. 
There is no doubt that the greatest care must be used in the boiling and subsequent 
distribution of the jam into pots to ensure sterility and keeping properties. 
The following is a summary of the chief investigations and analyses, together 
with references to the methods employed : — 
i. The Injurious Effects of Foods and Beverages preserved with Boracic 
and Salicylic Acids 
To test the injurious action of these preservatives, kittens, three weeks old, 
were fed with milk containing these preservatives in the proportion in which they 
were found in articles of diet. It will be seen from the table that the kittens fed on 
boracized milk from May 25 to June 2 failed not only to gain weight, but 
actually lost considerably in many cases. The control kittens, on the other hand, 
fattened in the usual manner. Further, the boracized kittens suffered in health, and 
were subject to diarrhoea. On June 8, a pure milk diet was substituted for the 
boracized milk, and the kittens rapidly gained in weight. These experiments confirm 
those which had been made in the previous year. 
Further experiments made by Dr. Grunbaum in this laboratory have shown 
that the addition of borax to milk to the extent of 0*4 per cent, by precipitating the 
calcium is sufficient to inhibit the action of the rennet ferment, whilst at the same 
time the inhibiting effect on the growth of pathogenic micro-organisms is practically 
nil. On the other hand, keeping milk cooled to 40 deg. F. almost entirely stops the 
growth of the bacteria. 
Both the feeding and digesting experiments show that boracic acid in milk 
is injurious, and ought not to be added. 
