The Huntington Advertiser

Tainted Beef
EVIDENCES OF SECRET PRESERVATIVES DETRIMENTAL TO HEALTH.

The following is the report of Gen Miles during his testimony before the War Investigating Commission, and was submitted by him as an exhibit in support of his assertions concerning the beef contract:

"WASHINGTON, D. C, September 21, 1898
To the Assistant Adjutant General. Headquarters of the Army. Washington, D C.
Sir: I have the honor to report, in the interests of the service. that in the several inspections I made in the various camps and troopships at Tampa. Jacksonville, Chickamauga and Porto Rico, I found the fresh beef to be apparently preserved with secret chemicals, which destroys its natural flavor, and which I also believe to be detrimental to the health of the troops.

"While on duty at the headquarters of the army at Tampa, at the time of the embarkation of the 'Shafter expedition,' Col. Weston, the efficient chief commissary, showed me a quarter of beef that had already, as a test, been sixty hours in the sun without being perceptibly tainted so far as the sense of smell could detect It is impossible to keep fresh beef so long untainted in the sun in that climate without the use of deleterious preservatives, such as boric acid, salicylic acid or nitrate of potash injected it in quantities likely to be hurtful to the health of the consumer. At Ponce, Porto Rico, much of the beef I examined arriving on the transports from the United State was also of the same character, being apparently preserved by injected chemicals to aid deficient cold storage

"Where efficient cold storage is impossible transporting beef alive is the method that should receive the fullest consideration by the government, as being the safest for the health of the consumer.
When detailed to take charge of the transport Panama for conveying convalescents to the United States I obtained 2,000 pounds of fresh beef from the commissary at Ponce. It looked well, but had an odor similar to that of a dead human body after being injected with preservatives, and tasted when first cooked like decomposed boric acid, while after standing a day for further inspection it became so bitter, nauseous and unpalatable as to be quite impossible for use. I was therefore obliged, owing to its condition and the just complaints of the sick about it, and the disgustingly sick odor it emitted when being cooked, its mawkish, flat taste and the safety of the convalescent soldiers, to throw it overboard.
There was a lot of beef just issued to that regiment, and while it looked well, was of a sickening odor like a human body dead of disease and injected with preservatives, and when cooked was quite unpalatable. consequently likely to prove an efficient cause of ill health. The men complained of its insipid and mawkish flavor that high seasoning could not conceal.

"Believing that the commissary department has been imposed upon by the misdirected commercial spirit of persons furnishing fresh beef, I respectfully recommend that the matter be investigated by experts, making a quantitative and qualitative chemical analysis of the several preservatives suspected to be used by getting samples of beef furnished for export to Cuba and Porto Rico.

"If the question arises that a report should have been made by me earlier, I beg to say that I have endeavored with all my opportunities to first inform myself by observation of the conditions above noted sufficiently to warrant my drawing the attention of the adjutant general at headquarters of the army to the matter. Very respectfully,
(Signed) W. H. DALY,
Major and Chief Surgeon, U S.V."