Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1855-06-27
rooa and its Asulterations.

Scott & Co.. by the hands of Taylor s. Maur,
of this city, the Edinburg. the Westminster, an
the London Quarteries, those grand exponents
British science and literature.
We have just snpped on horrors in rising fro'
the perural of an appalling article in the latte
neriodical on the subject of FOOD and its Adu
tera,,ons.u - and indeed we begin now to thin
that
ga scrip with herbs and roots supplied,
And water from the spring."
affords TO man safer rejection, in these our days
than the most costly cafes or the most SUMPTION
banouet ever served up at the London Iavern.-
But to the extracts:
81 ,et us commence with the cruet-stand on ou
table and apalyze its contents: mustard, blac
and CAYENNE pepper, vinegar. Of mustard, for
ty.two samples analyzed by Dr. Hassall. all weT
more or less aduterated with flour for bulk ant
turmerlc for color. Vinegar is aduterated witt
water and sulphurc acid. Pepper is mixed NJ
with Ground mustardsseeds and lnseed meal
But Cayenne pepper hear and trem6le ye lovers
of biph seasoning out OF twenty-elght samples
red-lead, and often in poisonous quantities, was
nresent in thirteen. Who knows how many
have fallen victims to their Cayenne cruets %
We need scarcely say that meat is exemp
from aduieration as long as 1t remains IN the con
diton of Joints but the moment the original fibre
and form can be hidden the spirit of craft begins
to work. Certain prejudices have always exist
ed against polonies and sausages, for example
and. if we may believe witness examined BY
the Smithfeld Market Commissioners. not with
out reason 1t is an old joke that no donkeys ex'
ist within twenty miles of Epping. SO famous foI
sausages; but if all the donkey tribe In England
were to fall victims to the choppng- machine
they would fail to supply the polony and sausage
establishments of the metropolis. Mr.. >. har'
per. for instance, being under 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 sausages makers. The trade IN .ois-
eased meat is very alarming, as anything IN the
shape of flesh can be sold at about one penny per
pound, and am certain that if one hundred car
casses of cows were lying dead in the nelghbor-
hood of London could get them all sold within
twenty-fou hours. IL don't matter what they
died off,"
Alum, possessing the profitable qualities Of i'm
parting whiteness and absorbing water, is almost
always found present in bakers bread.
The next section affords but cold comfort to
teetotaers. The process of adulleratlng teas
green, black, gunpoN der, and Hyson-is very
minutely described, but at such length as to pre-
cude its appearance here. The result, however,
is that the least poisonous OF those fragrant 1ntu-
sions are the low w-priced teas. Pure green tea Is
not to be found in England or America. 1t ls
adulterated in China, and its limitations here are
embellished with Prussian blue, turmerlc, and
copperas, while the milk We infuse in 1t is varle-
rated with water, annatto and oxide OF IRON.
| OF the ingenious substitutes devised by London
grocers in the sale of ground coffee we shall say
but little, as we, the free citizens of this glorious
Republic, enjoy the privilege OF roasting or toast
inc the native berry TO suit our own paiates.-
Neither shall We dilate on the impurities OF
Thames water. though such impurities constitute
the least unvholesome part OF that far famed pev-
erage, the London porter, which we lmbioe win
such unwavering faith. The witches IN Mac,
beth. indeed never commingIed IN their iniernai
caldron such baleful ingredients as meet in ami
cable rivalry in the brewers vat, to be thence
transmitted in loamlDg bottles and barrels 70
cheer British warriors in the Crimea and taroy
conyalescents in North America Coculus lndlcus
and beans as ntoxcators; caiamus aromstIcus as
substitute for hops; quassla as bltter corlander
seeds 10 mpart flavor ginger and grams OF para,
disc to give warmth, while delectable compound
of green vitrol, alum, and salt contribute TO give
that frothy head so much admired In glass and
tankard.
Wine is too extensive subject 10 be treated
here. Let it suffice for the consolation OF those
philosophers who have foresworn all thin pota-
tons that ogwood is the most lnnocuous OF drugs
entering into the composition of their tayorte port.
Alas for The dram-drinkers! Gin and brandy
unsophistcaied are mere beings OF the lmagtna-
ton. The ingredients forming the compound
termed gin are oil of cinnamon, Cayenne pepper,
sulphate of zinc, or white vltrlo, while the DUO
bles at the brm of the glass, usually deemed a
proof of strength, are the combined product ol
alum, almond oil, sui phurlc acid, and spirits OF
wine. Brandy, 50 scarce in France, its native
soil. and so abundant in England and America, IS
constructed on basis of common whlskey by an
nering favored raisin wine, tlncure OF grams
of paradise, cherry laurel water, and spirit OF al
mond cake. A few handfuls OF burnt sugar is
then added, in order to give the nectar complex
ion. But we have exceeded our limits.
Snuff, the brightener of clouded ideas, sha!!
close our excerpts. "When man taps his snufi-
box and takes out pinch he little dreams tnat
he is introducing into his system an enemy
which. in the long run, might master his nerves
and produce paralysis. DR.. Hassell detected no
less than three poisonous preparations introduced
into the manufacture Of snuif-chromate OF lead,
red lead. and bi-chromate Of potash, the last be-
ing deadly poison. Many persons have been
derived of the use Of their limbs through per-
sisience in taking snuff adulterated with lead In
less proportions than those found in the same ex'
amples examined by DR.. Hassall. !"
And now. gentle reader, for narrowing list OF
the manifold snares laid to entrap the hungry ana
the thirsty. of the perils attendant on hasty and
thourhtless degluttion. see the London Quarterly
fer April, l655.-Cor. Of The Nat. Int.
HoNoR AMONG THIEvEs.-"Rob the house,