Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-07-07
rooD AND ITS ApuLrEnAr,oNs.

l
The revelations Of this work relate almost
exclusively to the adulterations practiccd in
London, but unfortunately knavery of this
sort is cosmopolitan aud though we may not
suffer SO badly as the Londoncrs, yet the fact
that we do suffer in all our large cities from
asystematic practice OF atlultering food can
not be doubted DR.. Hassall. the chief
Analyst of the "laapcet Commission" in his
inquisition into the sccrets of dishonest man
uiacturers and tradesman made the micro
scope his most powerful agent of discovery.
lie pefan,bulated the town himself. or sent
his trustworthy agents to purchase articles,
upon all ef which the inexorable microscope
was set TO work, and every fraudulent sample
a'ter due notice given, subjected its vendor
10 be pinned Tor ever to the terrible pages
oil the Commissioners report. In this man
aer direct responsibility was obtained. If
The Justification denounced was not the work
OF the retailer, he was glad erough TO shift
the blame upon the manufacturer, and thus
the truth came out. BY this mode of inves
tigation, it was found that to such a pitch of
refinement had the art of Justification of
allmentary substances reached, that the very
articles used to adulterate were adulteratcd :
ana while one tradesman was picking the
pockets oil his customers, q still more cum
ming rogue was, unknown TO himself deep in
his own
The manner in which food is adutcrntcd is
stated to be not only one of degree but Of
KIND. The most simple of all sophistications
and that which is most harmless, is the mix
ture OF inferior qualities Of the same sub
stance. Indeed if the price charged were
according to quality. it wonld be no fraud at
all, but this ad diustment rarely takes place.
Secondly, the mixture of cheaper articles OF
another kind; thirdly, the surreptitious in-
PRODUCTION of materials which, taken in large
quantities, are preiudica TO health and
fourthy the admixture of the most deadly
poison in order to improve the appearance of
the article 'doctored.'
The results given in the pages of the re-
port are sufficiently alarming TO those who
are disposed TO inquire what they eat. The
system of adulteratiOn is so widespread as to
embrace almost every article of consumption
Even the condiments that give flavor to the
more substantial alimentary substances do
not escape. Mustard is adulterated with
flour for bulk and with tumeric for color
Pepper is sophisticated with -four, rice and
linseed meal, and in London cask labelled
p. ID. pepper dusD and holding the sweep
ings OF the pepper warehouse, is part Of the
furniture OF every grocery In red pepper
the adulterations resorted to are not only
fraudulent but poisonous. We are told that
out Of twenty-eight samples submitted to
examination, no less than twenty-four were
adulterated with white mustard-seed, brick
dust, salt, ground rice, and deal Sd,rduSt, by
way OF giving bulk but as all of these tend
to tighten the color, it is necessary to height
en- it TO the required pitch. And what is
employed to do this? Out of twenty-eight
samples, red lead, and often in poisonous
quantities., was present in thirteen
The great staple articles of food are not
subject to adultcration in the same proper
tion as these articles of minor consumption,
but in many instances the frauds resorted to
long as it remains in the shape of Joints, but
the moment the original fibre and form can
be hidden the spirit Of craft begins to work.
Certain preiudices have always existed
against polonies and sausages, for example,
and, if we may believe witness examined by
the Smithfeld Market Commissioners, not
without reason. 1t is an old joke that no
do,Ikeys exist within twenty miles of Epping,
so famous for sausages but il all the donkey
tribe in England were to fall victims TO the
chopping- machine they would fail to supply
the polony and sausage establishment of the
metropolis. Mr.. J. Harper, for instance,
being nnder examination upon being asked
what became of the diseased meat brought
into London, replied:
at is purchased by the soup shops, meat
pie shops, and sausage makers. The trade
III diseased meat is very alarming as any
thing in the shape of flesh can be sold at
about one penny per pound, and l am GER
tain that if one hundred carcasses of COWS
were lying dead in the neighborhood of
London l could get them all sold within
twenty-four hours II don't matter what Mcy
died of"
Bread also is subject to adulteration.
When it is made from damaged or inferior
flour, mixture called by the trade 'hards'
and stuff" which is nothing more than alum
and salt, kept prepared in large quantities by
the druggists, is used. From this mixture
the baker derives the advantage of improving
the color of his bread, while it also absorbs a
large quantity of water which he thus sells
at high rate per pound In some cases il
was proved that the milers had used alum
to improve the appearance of their -four.
Tea drinkers will find the results adduced
by DIR. Hassal reason to eschew hereafter
that favorite beverage. Pure greer teas il
Is shown, are not to be found in England OF
America. 1t is adulterated in China, and its
limitations here are embellished with Prus
sian blue, tumeric, and copperas, while the
milk we lnluse in it is variegated with water
annatto and oxide of iron. OF fifty sample,
oil green tea analysed by DIR. Hassal, al
were adulterated. There is one particular
KIND which is almost entirely a manufactured
article-gunpowder, both black and green
the former being called scented caper. Boil
have large admiXture of what is termed
'iye tea or compound of sand, dirt, tea
dust, and broken down portions of othel
leaves worked together with gum into small
nodules. This detestible compound, contains
forty-hve per cent. Of earthly matter, and i;
manufactured both in China and in England
Tor the express purpose of adulterating tea
When mixed with Scented caper it is faced
with black lead; when with gunpowder
russian blue, turmerc and French chalh
i've It the required bloom. Mr.. Warning
Ion 1.-THE author Of an article upon the teas o
commerce) states that about 100000 lbs. o
tnis spurious tea have been imported into
treat Britain within eighteen months Sin
gniariy enough, the low priced teas are thu
only genuine ones. Every sample Of thi'
class which was analysed by Dir. Hassal
proved to be perfectly pure. Here at leas
The poor have the advantage of the bette
classes who pay higher price to be injured
III tHelr health by painted beverage.
Zone is subjected to the most atrocou
uuuittrations, and those only are sure of get
ing the pure berry who roasts it themselves
t,s aaulteration with chcory is the least G
Iie denominations to which il is subjected
= TO- luul.