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Show Phe city health department has unearthed un-earthed a condition existing in tho city that, unless tho peoplo heed a warning Issued, may result seriously In many cases, according to tho statement of George Shorten, health officer. It has been discovered that many housewives in the city have used brass fruit-jar tops in canning fruit and vegetables. These tops are subject to tho action of tho acids contained in tho preserved preserv-ed products nnd tho chemical produced produc-ed is poisonous. After this has had a chance to 'Svork" It soon gets into the contents of the jars, making the contents most dangerous to eat. A sample jar of tomatoes w;is sent to tho state chemist, who mado an analysis and found the brass had become be-come black and that a dark brown, oily substance was to bo found around tho cap and inside tho jar. This was nalyzed and found to bo a poison. Persons partaking of tho contents of the jar would place themselves liable to a serious case of metallic poisoning. ! Mr. Shorten stated that thero were r : thousands of the brass, tops in use In the city. Because of the shortage of the ordinary zinc tops, these were put on tho market as a substitute. "While this is most regretablo," he said, "we aro glad to havo discovered tho condition before the fruit has been extensively used. I would advise those who have tops of this sort to bo very careful not to uso tho fruit or vegetables, vege-tables, if there Is tho least trace of corrosion around the tops of tho jars. It might result most seriously. In many cases, the fruit will have to bo thrown away. Some of the brass caps havo a porcelain or glass lining which prevents this condition, but care should bo taken to determine whether wheth-er the contents of the jars are tainted ln tho least. "Wo regret this condition especially this year," Mr. Shorten further said, "becauso of the fact that tho food conservation con-servation campaign has been waged, urging the preserving of all tho fruits and vegetables, possible. However, there will be no sense in keeping this fruit, if its uso will endanger life. Tho chance is too great to tako." |