Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1872-06-21
Authorizations.


WHILE It is very difficult, and perhaps
almost impossible, to detect the finer
kinds of adulteration in the case of
liquors, we are fortunately able to follow
the adulterator of the ordinary articles of
food, and to detect his practices with GER
tainty. Add perfectly odorless spirit TO
brandy, and although the adulteration is
notable and profitable, it is beyond the
reach of the chemist Add chicory to
coffee, and although the chemist fails to
point il out with certainty, the miuroscop.
ist is not so easily baked. Before the
searching power of this wonderful tube,
tho secret operations of the adulterator
become as obvious as If performed in full
view; for the microscope reveals to us
the ultimate structure of the different
vegetable and animal substances, and as
each has its own well-marked character.
istics, 1t is as easily recognized by the ex.
pert as are the faces of his friends by an
ordinary observer. No one who has ever
seen potato starch could readily mistake
it for anything else; chicory and coffee
are so unlike that the difference is in
stantly perceived, and the smallest addi-
ton of either one to a sample of the other
is readily detected. So, too, in regard to
many sophistications of purely chemi-
cal character. Red lead, added to yer.
million, is easily separated sulphuric
acid, or oil of vitriol, when used for the
purpose of increasing the strength of vim
egar, is readily recognized; sugar, when
adulterated with sand, may easily be made
to give positive evidence of the presence
of the latter; the coloring matter employ
ed for the purpose of converting worth
less tea leaves into the "best" green tea,
may, without difficulty, be identified; and
the mineral matter, such as terra dl6a or
farinaceous substances, such as wheat,
corn or potato starch, used for the pur-
pose of increasing the bulk and weight
of confectionery, may be deter
mined. There is wide range
of cases in which adulterations may be
detected with ease and proved with GER
tainty. Some of the tricks of the willy
adulterator show marvellous ingenuity.
Thus, some persons, knowing that most
ground coffee is adulterated, never buy
the ground article, but always procure
the whole beans, which they either grind
themselves or get ground. To meet this
case, the adulterator makes up paste of
ground chicory, pea flour, and other cheap
materials, and molds it, by machinery,
into the form of the beans. These artifi.
cial beans are rolled in barrel until
smooth, roasted to the proper color, and
mixed with small portion of genuine
beans, to give them the true coffee flavor
The fraud is of course easily detected, as
such beans quickly fall to powder when
soaked in water; but this example shows
the ingenuity and painstaking of The
fraudulent classes, who often spend, in
efforts to cheat, an amount of labor anC
ingenuity that, if devoted to some honest
undertaking, would be certain to insure
success.
Any attempt to suppress the practice O.
adulteration must be based upon certainty
of exposure and punishment. How many
children are robbed of their due amoun
of nutriment by the vile practice o
watering milk How often is the physi
clan disappointed in the effects of tn,
medicines that he prescribes, simply from
the fact that these medicines are not pure
some dishonest and avaricious druggis
having aduIterated them with cheaper anC
less potent materials, in order that h,
might make little gain
We feel satisfied that the practice O
adulteration will never be completely anC
permanently checked until the Govern
ment takes the matter fairly in hand, anC
enacts efficient laws looking to the detec
tion and punishment of this crime. Pro
tessOr PIN, in Good Health.