The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-20 00:00:00

_ . _
LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 20, 1856.

THE NATIONAL S AVINGS-BANK ASSO
CI kTION (Limited). 50, King William•street, City, Lon.
don. Incorporated, pursuant to " The Joint-Stock Companies A,
1806." m-
Present Capital £lO,OOO, in 10,000 paid-up Shares of £1
each ; to be increased to £lOO,OOO.
PATRONS AND HONORARY REFEREES.
Thirty Gentlemen of the highest monetary and social status con-
nected with the City of Lyndon.
TRUSTEES.
Henry Hall Dare, Eq., 90, Ebury-street.
Frederic Doulton, Esq., Lambeth, and Manor-hou 3C, Dulwich-com-
mon.
John %Villain Williamson, Esq , 5, Serle-street, Lincoln's-Inn-fields.
DIRECTORS

J. W. Williamson, Esq., 8, Serle-street, Chair.
Man.
J. Bennett, Esq., 180, High-street, Boro', and Creswell-park, Black.
heath.
Samuel S. Benson, Esq., F.S A., 47, Cornhill, and Priory-lodge,
Lce, Blackheath.
Josiah Brown, Esq., 31, Gracechnrch-street, and Lower Edmonton.
Henry Hall Dare, Esq., 90, Ebury-street.
Frederic Dou;ton, Esq., Lambeth, and Manor-house, Dulwich-com-
mon.
Rev. J. B. Hawking, B. A., 50, King William-street, City (Resident).
Edward James Oliver, Esq., Newington-causeway.
Thomas Riddell, Esq.. 40, ibson-square, Islington.
Matthew F. Waptare, Esq., 10, Walcot-place West, Kennington-
road.
Marie A. Watts, Esq., 12, Bridge-road. St. John's-w;od.
Frederick John Wilson, Esq., 32, Cadogan-place.

_ .
AUDITORS. - -
C. L. Lawson, Esq., F.I. A., 14, Waterloo-place, Pall Mall.
William F. Pater, Esq., Mount-pleasant, Bat nsbury.
PRYSICIAN.--ii. G. Noyes, Esq., M.D., 34, Finsbury-circus.
SURGEON. —Buxt m Shillttoe, Esq , 34, Finsbury-circus.
SURVEYORS.
Messrs. Haslam and Bucklaiid, 89, Cannon-street West.
William Rogers, Esq., 13a, Cannon-row, Westminster.
SoLictrous —Messrs. Brady and Son, 1, Staple-inn.
BANXERS.—The London Joint-Stock Bank
This Association has been formed to consolidate and improve the
Savings-Bank system ; to offeY better interest than has hitherto
been allowed ; facilities for 11•7'i mlted demosit ; means of convenient
withdrawal, and perfect semity to the Depwitor.
The unpopularity of the present system, its acknowledged Inse-
curity to Depo..itors, expen:e of management, and low rate of in-
terest, are universally acknowledged: while in strong contrast are
present- 1 the advantages of the new system of the National Savings-
Association.

Tha proof of the necessity which exists for this Association will
he found in the fact that there are no less than 483 places, with
more than 3,000 inhabitants each, that have not a Savings-Bank ;
so partial in operation Is the present system.
The Directors propose to supply this deficiency by the gradual
estab ishment of branches: al.o to keep at the Head Office a dupli•
cate of every account in the country; to strike the balance at the
Head Office every June and December, from the weekly returns of
the branches of the Association ; sad to exhibit the numbers of ach
pass-book, with the balance due, as ascertained by such return.,
every June and December in each Breach Bank. After July, 1867,
they will cause returns of the Association, duly certified by the Audi-
tors, to be made it January and July, and a copy to be sent to
every Shareholder.
The Directors expect that the National Savings-Bank Associa-
tion will be able to pay its shareholders a large dividend on all c,sh
paid up on shares.

Application for Shares may now be ad iresred to the Directors of
the National Savings-Bank Association (limited), 50, King William.
street, Ci y, London.
Gentlemen,—l request you will allot to me Shares in
the above undertaking—which, or any less number you may allot to
me, I will accept. Herewith I forward ss. per share, and agree to
pay 15s. per share within one month after allotment.
I am, Gentlemen, your obedient Servant,
Name in full
Address in full
••••••••••
Business or Profession
Date of Application...... .• • • • ..day of ...... lB • •
5
Relerence .............. • •

CITY OF LONDON SAVINGS-BANK,
Branch No. 1 of the National Savlngs-Bank Assoc'ation (Li-
mited). Incorporated. 50, King William-street, City, London.
ON AND AFTER THE IST SEPTEMBER, 1856, the City of London
Savings-Bank will be open Daily from 10 to 4 o'clock ; a!so on Tues-
days and Saturdays from 6 to 8 o'clock in the Evening.

ADULTERATION OF FOOD, thc.

- -
FINAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF THE
HOUSE OF COMMONS.
Theselect committee appointed to inquire into the adul-
teration of food, drinks, and drugs, and who were em-
powered to report their observations, together with the
minutes of evidence, from time to time to the house, have
made further progress in the matters to them referred, and
have agreed to this their final report :
Your committee have inquired into the subject referred
to them, and in the course of their invbstigatiou have ex-
amined a great number of witnesses, comprising men of
high scientific attainments, as well as those whose practi-
cal knowledge as dealers seemed to point them out as per-
sons likely to give useful information.
Among the scientific witnesses examined wore Dr.
Hassell, well known by his able investigations of the sub-
jects of adulterations of food ; Mr. Warrington, chemical
operator to the Apothecaries' Company; Dr. Normandy,
Mr. Simon, and Dr. Lethebv, the late and present officers
of health in the City of London ; Dr. Thompson, professor
of chemistry at St. Thomas's Hospital ;Mr. Redwood, pro-
fessor of chemistry to the Pharmaceutical Society; Mr.
Simmonds, author of a work on the commercial products
of the vegetable kingdom ; Mr. Postgate, a surgeon and
chemical lecturer in Birmingham ; Mr. Phillip, chief
officer of the chemical department of the Board of Inland
Revenue ; Dr. Taylor, professor of medical jurisprudence
at Guy's Hospital; Dr. Waller Lewis, medical officer to
the General Post-office ; Mr. Quekett, professor in the
Royal College of Surgeons; Mr. Thompson, an analytical
chemist; Mr. Blyth, lecturer on natural philosophy at St.
Mary's Hospital ; Dr. Challice, Mr. Wakley, coroner for
Middlesex ; Mr. Jacob Bell, Dr. Carpenter, of University
College ; Dr. jMoore Neligan, of Dublin; Dr. Richter, and
Dr. Bingleylrofesaor at the Medical Institute of Sheffield.
Though the witnesses differed both as to the extent to
which adulteration is carried on, and as to its nature artr',
effects, your committee cannot avoid the conclusion that
adulteration widely prevails, though under circumstances
of very various character. As regards foreign products,
some arrive in this country in an adulterated condition,
while others are adulterated by the English dealer. Other
commodities, again, the produce of this country, are
shown to be in an adulterated state when passing into the
hands of the dealers, while others undergo adulteration by
the dealers themselves.
Not only is the public health thus exposed to danger, and
pecuniary fraud committed on the whole community, but
the public morality is tainted, and the high commercial
character of this country seriously lowered, both at home
and in the eyes of foreign countries. Though, happily, very
many refuse, under every temptation, to falsify the quality
of their wares, there are, unfortunately, large numbers,
who, though reluctantly practising deception, yield to the
pernicious contagion of example, or to the hard pressure of
competition forced upon them by their less scrupulous
neighbours.
Without entering into voluminous details of the evidence
taken, your committee would enumerate the leading arti-
cles which have been proved to be snore or less commonly
adulterated : these are, arrowroot, adulterated with potato
and other starches; bread with potatoes, plaster of Paris,
alum, and sulphate of copper; bottled fruits and vegetables
with certain salts of copper; coffee with cricory, roasted
wheat, beans, and mangold wurtzel ; chicory with roasted
wheat, carrots, sawdust, and Venetian red ; cocoa with
arrowroot, potato-flour, sugar, chicory, and some ferrugi-
nous red earths ; cayenne with ground rice, mustard husk,
&c., coloured with red lead, Venetian red, and turmeric;
gin with grains of Paradise, sulphuric acid, and cayenne;
lard with potato-flour, mutton suet, alum, carbonate of
gods, and caustic lime ; mustard with wheat flour and tur-
meric; marmalade with apples or turnips; porter and
stout (though sent out in a pure state by the brewers) with
water, sugar, treacle, salt, alum, cocculus indicus, grains
of Paradise, nux vocaica, and sulphuric acid ; pickles and
preserves with salts of copper ; snuff with various chro- '
mates, red lead, lime, and powdered glass ; tobacco with
water, sugar, rhubarb, and treacle ; vinegar with water,
sugar, and sulphuric acid ; jalap with powdered wood;
opium with poppy capsules, wheat flour, powdered wood,
and sand ; scammony with wheat-flour, chalk, resin, and
sand ; confectionery with plaster of Paris and other simi-
lar ingredients, coloured with various pigments of a highly
poisonous nature; and acid drops, purporting to be com-
pounded of jargonelle pear, Ribstono pippin, lemon, &c.,
with essential oils, containing prussic acid or other clan-
gorous ingredients.
The adulteration of drugs is extensively practised; and
when it is borne in mind that the correctness of a medical
prescription rests on an assumed standard df strength and
purity in the drugs or compounds employed, and how fre-
quently life itself depends upon the efficacy of the medi-
cines prescribed, it is difficult to exaggerate the evils aris•
ing from this prevalent fraud.
The adulteration of drinks deserves also special notice,
because your committee cannot but conclude that the in-
toxication so deplorably prevalent is in many cases less due
to the natural properties of the drinks themselves than to
the admixture of narcotics or other noxious substances in-
tended to supply the properties lost by dilution.
Though adulterations prevail more or less in all districts,
it may be assumed, as a rule, that the poorer the district
the greater is the amount of adulteration. Nor have the
poor the same power to protect themselves against such
frauds as their richer neighbours ; they are necessarily
limited to such means of purchase as are afforded by the
immediate locality in which they reside, and are, moreover,
too often bound to one dealer by tho facilities of credit
which he affords them.
These adulterations may be classified under three heads,
those of which the object is to lower the price of the
article adulterated by the admixture of substances of a
cheaper kind ; those which are intended to improve the
appearance of the adulterated article, and thus in many
cases to deceive the public as to its quality; and those
which are practised for the purpose of simulating some pro-
perty injured or destroyed in the process of adulteration.
Adulteratione in each of these classes are of two kiucls-

those in which are employed substances of an innocuous
character, and those in which the mixtures are more or less
injurious to health, either directly by the noxious properties
of the ingredients, or indirectly by lowering the nutritive
qualities of the article adulterated.
In dealing with these various adulterations it is neces-
sary to distinguish between the pecuniary fraud practised
on the public and the injury to public health. If, as
regards the adulteration of articles with substances of a
cheaper and innocuous character, the public derive the
full benefit of this cheapness in a lower price, it would be
difficult, if not unwise, for the Legislature to interfere,
unless it could do so by requiring that every such article
be sold as a mixture, as distinguished from the article
in its pure state. This the law already requires as to
the article of coffee, and also as to the article of bread,
which, unless made of wheat flour alone, must be dis-
tinctly masked with the letter IL But, whenever an ar-
ticle is so adulterated as to involve pecuniary fraud or in-
jury to health, it appears to your committee to be the duty
of the Legislature to provide some efficient remedy.
It has been objected that the best course will be to leave
the buyer to take care of himself. But there are many
adulterations which it is impassible for the buyer to detect.
Already the law takes note of frauds iu weights and mea-
sures, of injuries likely to result to the public health from
the sale of unwholesome animal food, and indeed of many
adulterations, though in most cases only with a view to
fiscal considerations, and not to those of a moral or sani-
tary character.
It is said, too, that there are many frauds which legisla-
tion cannot reach or punish. But, on the other hand, it
would be difficult to tell the numberless frauds which le-
gislation may prevent.

The great -difficulty of legislating on this subject lies in
putting an end to the liberty of fraud without affecting
the freedom of commerce.
With a view to form an opinion as to the best remedy for
this growing evil, your committee have obtained evidence
as to the law on adulterations in other countries, and es-
pecially in France, Belgiarn, Germany, and the United
States. In this object your committee have been materi-
ally assisted by returns procured through the kindness of
Lord Clarendon from some of our ministers at foreign
courts.

As to the present state of the law in this country, your
committee received much valuable information from Mr.
S. R. Goodman, the legal advisor to the justices of the City
of London.
The following is a brief statement of the laws of different
countries on the subject of adulterations.

In France, a law, bearing date the 27th March, 1851,
confirmed and extended the penal code to all adulterations
in "alimentary and medicinal substances!' T 4 this law
was added ono of the sth May, 1555, applicable to the
adulteration of drinks. The law of March, 1851, wa•
founded upon two reports of a commission of inquiry,
bearing date the 24th Jan. and 25th Feb., 1851. The law
of May, 1855, was preceded by a like report made the
29th March, 1855.
The provisions of these laws apply
Ist. To those who shall adulterate any alimentary cr me
dicinal substances intended for sale.

2. To those who shall sell, or expose for sale, such sub-
stances, knowing them to be adulterated.
If the article adulterated contains substances injurious to
wealth, the fine ranges from 50 to 500 franc, with impri
somata from 3 months to 2 years ; these punishments
being applicable even in cases where the adulteration is
known, to the buyer or consumer.
A penalty of 16 to 25 francs, and imprisonment from 6
t 9 10 days, er one of these modes of punishment, according
to circumstances, is imposed on those who, " without legi-
. Amato cause," shall have in their shops or warehou -.3 any
rush adulterated articles. If the adulterated article be in-

jut ious to health the fine may be increased to 50 francs and
the imprisonment to 15 days.
The fino and imprisonment may be doubled if a delin-
quent has been previously convicted within 5 years of his
last offence. •
The adulterated articles shall be confiscated, and if inju-
rious to health destroyed.
The authorities may make public announcement of the
particulars of the offence by placard and advertisement.
A special " ordonmance do police," in Paris, applies to
the manufacture and sale of confectionery, and forbids the
use, for colouring, of all mineral matter, and all poisonous
vegetable matter. Confectioners are required to envelope
coloured confectionery in paper marked with their name
and address, and are made personally responsible for acci-
dents arising from the consumption of the articles they
sell. Confectioners' shops are to be visited, for the purpose
of seeing that they conform to those regulations. As an
additional precaution, the " Conseil de Salubritd" of the
city of Paris, a body consisting of eminent physicians,
chemists, and
,other persons, publishes a list of colouring
matters which may be employed by confectioners, with in.
structions as to the manner of mixing them, and a list of
the colouring matters, the use of which is expressly for-
bidden.
. In Belgiuth, a law, bearing date the 17th March, 1355,
declares that all who shall have adulterated or caused to be
adulterated any articles of fool or drink intended for sale
shall be liable to au imprisonment from eight days to one
year, and a fine from 50f. to 1,000 f., or to either punish-
ment alone.
The penalties are divided into two classes. The first
applies to persons who have adulterated, or caused to be
adulterated, eatables, drinkable liquors, or any articles of
food intended to be offered for sale, the penalty being, as
already stated, from eight days to a year's imprisonment,
and a fine of from 50f. or I,ooof. In the same class are
included persons who shall knowingly sell, or expose for
sale, adulterated articles, or shall have given instructions
calculated to facilitate or load to such adulteration.
The second class comprises persons who unintentionally
sell, or expose for sale, adulterated food, find who are liable
only to simple police punishments.
The mere fapt of knowingly keeping adulterated articles
of food intended for sale renders the person FO offending
liable to imprisonment from a week to a year, and to a flue
of from 25f. to 500 f. When the punishment reaches six
months' imprisonment the court can withdraw the
"patente" (licence to trade) from the offender during the
whole period of his iecarceration, which is equivalent to
preventing him from carrying on his business. A copy of
the conviction is to be posted up at the door of the person
condemned, or inserted in such journals as the court may
determine, at the expense of the culprit. All adulterated
articles of food in the possession of the delinquent aro to
be confiscated.
In Prussia the municipal law enacts that " no persons
shall knowingly sell or communicate to other persons for
their use articles of food or drink which possess properties
prejudicial to health, under a penalty of fine or bodily
punishment." Those who are found guilty of knowingly
selling victuals which are damaged or spoiled, or mixed
with deleterious additions, may be held incapable of car-
rying on the same branch of business. The articles may
be confiscated. Whosoever mixes articles of food with
foreign substances for the purpose of increasing their weight
or bulk, or of deceiving purchasers as to their quality, is
liable,to be proceeded against for fraud. With regard to
drugs the • law forbids their being dispensed by any other
parsons than apothecaries legally appointed.
In Hamburg adulterations of food are the subject of
police regulations, involving fine and imprisonment.
In Lubeck such adulterations are treated as acts of fraud,
and dealt with by police authority. The grinding of
blighted corn with good corn is prohibited.
In Holland, by a law of the 22d May, 1829, any person
adulterating bread or flour, or any article of food or drink,
with any poisonous matter, is liable to an imprisonment of
from two to five years, and a fine of from 200 to 500 florins,
and to the revocation of his "patents" during his impri-
sonment. The same penalties apply to those who know-
ingly sell.such adulterated articles, and to those who
supply the forbidden ingredient, knowing the purpose for
which it is to be used. A less severe punishment is in-
flicted on those who adulterate articles of food or drink
with ingredients not poisonous, but injurious to health, as
well as on those who offer them for sale. To the other
penalties are added the publication of the names of the
offenders, and the confiscation of the adulterated goods.
In Spain, the law, besides authorising the inspection of
drugs at the custom-house, permits the dispensing of drugs
only by apothecaries legally appointed, and absolutely for-
bids the sale of secret medicines.
In the United States special laws have been passed " to
prevent the importation of adulterated and spurious drugs
sud medicines." By these it is enacted that all drugs and
medicines shall, before passing the custom-house, be exa-
mined and appraised, as well in reference to their quality
and purity as to their value. All medicinal prep orations
are to have the name of the manufacturer affixed to each
parcel. Adulterated or deteriorated drugs and medicines
are not to be allowed to pass the customhouse ; but the
owner or consignee has the right of calling fur re-exami-
cation, or further analysis, if dissatisfied with the exami-
ner's return. The Secretary of the Treasury is to appoint
suitably-qualified persons, at each of the ports of New
York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston, and
New Orleans, as special examiners of drugs and medi-
cines. A Treasury minute proscribes the manner of carry-
ing out the act, and gives a list of the principal articles,
with the result of special tests agreeing with the standards
referred to in the law ; and all articles are entitled to entry
when ascertained by analysis to conform to those standards.
Patent and secret medicines aro subject to the same exa-
mination and disposition after examination as other medi-
cal preparations, and are not permitted to pass the cus-
tom-house unless the examiner be satisfied that they are
fit and safe to be used for medicinal purposes.
In the state of New York the law expressly forbids adul-
teration of flour, hops, and spirits. Any one knowingly
offering for sale flour mixed with Indian meal, or with any
other mixture, or with unsound flour, is liable to a penalty
of 5 dols. for every cask. Any one mixing with hops any
foreign or improper substances, or in any manner adulter-
ating their quality, is deemed guilty of misdemeanour, and
punishable by fine or imprisonment, or both. Any one
adulterating spirits with any poisonous substance, or sub.
stance injurious to health, or any one selling such spirits,
knowing them to be adulterated, is deemed guilty of misde-
meanour, and punishable by fine or imprisonment or both,
the fine in no case to exceed 1,000 dols., and the imprison-
ment in no case to exceed four years. The law also pro-
vides against the adulteration of oils, against the deceptive
packing of bay, and even against frauds in linens and other
goods containing fewer yards of measurement than are
marked upon them.
In England the law affords redress to consumers in cases
of adulteration by action, if the injury be individual in its
character; by indictment, if the injury be general ; by
summary charge before a magistrate; and by proceedings
instituted by the Excise: The process of action or indict-
ment is at once too costli, and too cumbrous for general
adoption. That by summary charge before a magistrate,
as well as that originating with the Excise, applies only
to a few special articles which are named in particular
acts, or which aro subject to the supervision, for fiscal
purposes, of the Board of Inland Revenue; but your com-
mittee are of opinion that it would be most desirable that,
in all cases of the sale of an adulterated or fictitious ar-
ticle, a cheap and easy remedy, by summary charge before
a magistrate, should be afforded to the person upon whom
the fraud had been practised, and they would strongly re-
commend the propriety of such a change in the present
law on this subject as would effect this object.
Your committee desire specially to call attention to the
provisions of the Bread Act, Gth and 7th Wm. IV., c. 37.
Sect. 2 provides that bread may be made of wheat flour,
barley, rs e, oats, buckwheat, Indian corn, peas, beans,
rice, or potatoes, with any common salt, pure water, eggs,
milk, berm, leaven, potato, or other yeast, and with no
other ingredients, subject to certain regulations. Any
mixture besides those allowed in Sect. 2 involves a penalty
of 101., or not less than Si., or in default an imprisonment
not exceeding six months, with or without hard labour;
and if the magistrate think fit, publicity of the offence by
advertisement. Any one mixing with the corn, meal, or
flour any ingredient not the genuine produce of the corn
or grain ; or any one selling, or offering for sale, separately
or mixed, any meal or flour of one sort of grain, as the
meal or flour of any other sort, or any ingredient mixed
with the meal or flour so sold, is liable to a penalty of 20/.
and not less than 51. All bread made with mixed meal or
flour must be marked with a Roman M ; the penalty for
neglecting this provision being a fine not exceeding 10s.
for every pound weight of broad not so marked. Magis-
trates or peace officers by their warrants, 'nay search pro-
mises, and seize any adulterated flour or bread, and search
for any forbidden ingredient. The penalty, if ingredient.
for adulteration are found, is la or not less than 40s. for
the first offence, Si. for the second, and 101. for every sub-
sequent offence), 'or, in default, six months' imprisonment,
with publicity as to the names of offenders. The. act also
provides for an appeal to quarter sessiores, and declare:
',hat no person shall be convicted unless complaint is made
within 48 hours after the offence, or within such reason-
ebbe time as to the justices may seem fit.
• Your committee have given the provisions of the Bread
Act in some detail, because it seems to them to comprise
much that may be useful in framing a measure applicable
+,o adulterations generally.
It is impossible td frame any enactment on this subject
which shall rely on strict definition. The object of the law
is to strike at fraud, and wherever a fradulent intention
can be proved, there to inflict a penalty. What consti•
tutes fraud must be left to the interpretation of the ad
winistrators of the law. Thus mixtmos of 11.11.innocuoues