February, ’18] 
ENTOMOLOGISTS’ DISCUSSIONS 
105 
transmit human and animal diseases. We have met with official 
barriers from the first in this work. I have no resentment in the 
matter at all and know just where the trouble is. It is merely because 
those high in authority do not see matters as we see them. I be¬ 
lieve they think they are doing the very best they can, and I think it 
is highly desirable that there be a frank and full conference between 
representatives of this Association and certain men in Washington, 
and that very likely there will be no barrier between us at all. 
Mr. F. C. Bishop: I will say for the information of those here that 
my understanding in the case of Dr. Jennings is that his commission 
in the Sanitary Corps of the army was given not because he was an 
entomologist, but because he was a good all around sanitarian. 
Mr. W. H. Goodwin: The point made by the English entomolo¬ 
gists concerning the preservation of food products is of vital impor¬ 
tance. Most people have no conception of the quantity rendered unfit 
for food by insect infestation. Most of the material voided by insects 
injurious to cereals and cereal products is in the form of ureates of 
ammonia, and contains practically no moisture. When these are 
taken into the digestive system they immediately become soluble, and 
cause an excess of ureates which may act as toxic poisons, and in small 
amounts daily cause a complexity of derangements. This has been 
tested experimentally in a limited way by feeding cakes made from 
infested material to dogs, and obtaining symptoms of toxic poisoning. 
We can draw our own conclusions concerning insect-contaminated 
products used for human food and its effects. 
Mr. C. L. Metcalf: I am a little more hopeful about the situation 
than some of the members who have spoken. One of my former stu¬ 
dents is in the Base Hospital at Philadelphia. He told me several 
weeks ago that he was pretty certain that his captain was going to 
utilize his services along insect lines. I am hopeful that our men 
going into service in the ordinary channels will be utilized by the War 
Department whether they are officially recognized as sanitary ento¬ 
mologists or not. 
Mr. H. A. Gossard: I move that a special committee of three be 
appointed by the chair to consider a proper course of action and draft 
resolutions concerning this matter. 
Secretary A. F. Burgess: I have a suggestion to make in this 
connection. At a good many of our meetings the committee on reso¬ 
lutions is rather an honorary job. It seems to me that if this matter 
were referred to them it would give them a chance to work to the limit. 
If the motion made has been seconded, I would like to offer an amend¬ 
ment that the matter be referred, in so far as resolutions are concerned, 
to the committee on resolutions. 
