as for the canned product, miles reported, during the war he had received many complaints about its poor quality. his officers provided many striking descriptions of it. "the meat ... soon became putrid," wrote one colonel, "and in many of the cans was found in course of putrefaction when opened." an infantry major declared that "'nasty' is the only term that will fitly describe its appearance. its use produced diarrhea and dysentery." still another officer noted that "it was often nauseating and unfit for use. it should no longer be issued."