The Louisiana cotton-boll. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], Attakapas, La.) 1872-1883, 1873-05-14
Artificial Fruit Essences.

The compound others which have
been found to possess the Odor and
flavor of certain fruits are several in
number.
Butyric Ether. This ether may be
prepared by mixing butyric acid with
sulphuric acid (oil of vitrioD and al
coho1. The former acid may be made
by mixing ~deoaying cheese with grape
sugar and chalk and allowing fermenta
tioE to take place. The ether is dis,
solved in another portion of alcohol and
forms the pineapple essence.
P~elargonic ether. pnanthic ether, may
be prepared by ~digesting pelargonic
acid with alcohol at a gentle heat. The
acid is the result of the action of nitric
acid (aqua-fortis) on oil of rue. The
ether is dissolved in alcohol and forms
the ounce essence.
Acetate of amylic ether is prepared
by distilling a mixture Of fusil oil, ace
tate of potash and concentrated sui
phuric acid. An alcoholic solution of
the ether forms the ~iargonelIe pear
escenee.
Valerianate of amylic ether may be
made by the action Of sulphuric acid
and valerianic acid upon fusil oil. An
alcoholic solution of this ether forms
the apple essence.
A mixture of acetate of amylic ether
with butyric ether forms the banana ea-
sence. Other mixtures of others, mod
fled by the addition of various agents,
as nitros ether, acetic acid, camphor,
tincture of orris, vanilla, the volatile
oils, ETC., result in limitations of other
fruits, the strawberry, raspberry, april
cot, curraDt, etc, etc.
Are these artificial fruit essences de-
leterious to health? A succinct answer
to this question cannot properly he
given. If taken into the stomach in
considerable quantity, and in an undi-
luted form, the effect would, without
doubt, be not simply deleterious but
highly dangerous. But, in the form in
which they are presented in c~onfection-
airy, etc, they are more or less diluted
the chance, therefore, Of harm follow
ing their occasional use is greatly les
sened. But aver when diluted, habit
ual indulgence in them, according to
the opinion of scientific men, cannot
fail to be injurious to health. And de-
leterious results may follow their occa-
sional use, even when in the diluted
form this may happen in the case of
adults, on account of a peculiar idiosyn-
Grassy. And ia all cases, probably,
children are more susceptible to their
influence than adults. Children are
also more likely than adults to partake
largely of confectionery, and a free in
diligence in articles of this kind, in a
season of the year when disorders of
the intestinal canal are prevalent, has
been known to bring on such disorders,
or to aggravate them when existing. It
is, however, sometimes the case that
dilution of the favoring ether
has not been made, and alarming con-
sequences have attended such careless
ness. The writer was informed by a
distinguished chemist and physician
that, withhe Lis personal knowledge,
Two ~children-one Of them, indeed, his
1wn ohild-were seized, after drinking
he liquid contained in a hollow toy
sa~ndy-anehor, with alarming sedative
iymptoms. requiring active medical
treatment. Enough of this liquid was
ecured to prove that it was favored
nth the artificial pineapple essence. /
When these essences first came into
confectionery favored with them
vas exceedingly popular but It was I
OF long before it be.@A4 - evident
lat hdale sAos Id such confectionery
attended With evil results. that !