Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1851-04-29
Poisonous Breakfast Beverages.

Having seen some remarks on the adulter
alton of coffee. in the Leader, think few
words by one who has been behind the cur
tain may be use. TO begin with green
tea, the system of facing or getting up as
il is called, is carried on to an exIeut that
few people would believe. Twelve or four
teen years ago the facing was chiefly done
by the hand-in Manchester. at Iessl--snd
the principal ingredient used was magnesia.
This gave place 10 Prussau blue, indigo,
and Dutch pink. Within the last few years
various other delelerious articles have heen
brought into use, and The steam engine is
now made TO do the work that was formerly
done by hand. When black tea is so much
damaged that il cannot be sold without dis
gUse, they at olce set 10 work aud make il
into green. No matter how rotten il is, i,
will he steamed and roasted up; and il il will
not take cured leaf, i, is ground and made
into small green tea. Plnmbago, ivory black
French chalk, and other like substances, are
used io lay foundation for the Prussian
blue, ETC.; aud the quantity of those powders
used for that purpose IS truly frightful. The
system OF mixing and repacking is also car
iled on 10 an eQormous extent; and great is
the ingenuity often displayed ia making the
chests look original. The new nails are Of
ten sprnkled with salt and water 10 make
them look rusty. Ground coffee (as most
people are aware) is quite as much adulter-
ated as tea. | have seen remarks made about
various kinds OF grain being used, but the
principal article is chicory, which IS itself
mixed with every substance that can ASST
miIate with IL. In Liverpool. damaged sea
bread is bnugh, up for the purpose, and all
kinds of spelled grains Rye is alA used in
large quantities; and when chicory was dear
er than it is at present, | have seen clay (yes
common clay by the cart Ioad) used 10 Man
chester for the purpose of reducing chicory
to 36s. per cwt When heavy grain was
used, the packets looked so small for the
money that another scheme was adopted -
That was to roast and gfiod bran along with
il; and | have seen hundreds of tons roasted
for that purpose. To give rich blooming
appearance TO all this rubbish, oxide of iron
is used in large quantities, and orange buds
are ground along with il to give il different
flavor. If even no grain IS used, Venetian
red and and orange buds are used for color
ing chicory alone. AT present something
like calcined sagar is havag great run,
aud goes By the name Of fningo. a little
of it is put along with the chicory; but it
can easily be detected by the naked eye,
showing itselfin blight gIttering particles
like glass. Cocoa also shares the same fate
as tea and coffee. At the present time |
know that 10 Lancashire soluble cocoa is
made al prices which vary from sd. up to IS.
the pound, from the same parcel OF cocoa.
To effect this, flour, potatoes, larin, and 9TH
er like substances, are used; also, treacle,
and here again oxide Of iron is used TO keep
up the color. The evil does not end here,
for those shopkeepers who often get the
blame for the practices | have alluded to,
know nothing Of them, the fault is with the
wholesale dealers Tor manufacturers, may
call lhem,) and who often carry on retail
business, but who take care TO sell good ar
,ices themselves, and serve other shops with
goods which they will not sell. Thus they
mouopolize the ready-mouey trade to them
selves, and get name for fair-dealing. We
hear much talk at times abou, sanitary ie-
form; but think little good can be effected
as long as the peoples food is poisoned by
such doings. have no doubt whatever but
every branch Of the provision trade is sub
ject TO the same complaInis.-[ London Lea
der.