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61
A most interesting inquiry and investigation has been made by
Dr. Buchanan, of the Local Government Board, into the question of the
condition at the present time of beef essence which had been prepared several
years ago and sent to South Africa during the war, and a Report has been
issued from which it would appear that large consignments of this substance
have been found at certain ports, not London, where it had been landed from
South Africa during the year.
Most of this beef extract was packed in tins, but some in glass bottles.
On examining the stuff there appeared to be no question of unsoundness in
connection with either of the materials used in enclosing the beef essence.
The essence had been manufactured by different English firms, and most, as
already stated, was in sealed tins.
The examination of the consignment, of course, exposed a certain proportion
of " blown " tins, but the samples—the subject of the investigation—did not
include any tins of this description.
The point about the tins which attracted most attention was that the
contents appeared to be quite fluid, which condition was confirmed on opening
the tins, whereas new samples consisted of a firm mass of jelly. Again,
further samples were clear and amber.coloured, whereas the contents of the
tins in question were turbid and dirty.looking.
Bearing in mind the fact that beef essence is probably often used for
administration to invalids, and in acute and severe illnesses, as a nourishing
stimulant, it appeared very probable that the change which had obviously
taken place in the constitution of beef essence were such as to render the
material quite unsuitable for that purpose.
The result of the enquiries was to show that the material change which
had taken place in the essence was due not to bacteriological processes, but to
metallic contamination from the interior of the tins
The essence had dissolved tin from the receptacle, and the turbidity of the
essence was due to the subsequent precipitation of tin in organic combination.
The quantity of metallic tin present in the samples was such as to render
it extremely probable that poisoning might result from partaking of the
same, and the conclusion arrived at was that the deterioration had taken place
rom the essence being kept in a tinned receptacle for too long a period.