, 1873-12-15

Il few Woeks ago, tho american Grocer call
Cd attention to the fact that cortnln parties arc
selling what purports to DO sugar sirup, but is
really M artificial product, obtained by the
chemical action of sulphurio a,id foil Of yitrioD
upon aomo Of several substances which consist
principally Of the ossential matorial Of wood
flbro. There arc reasons for believing TINT tho
manufacture aud sale aud consumption Of tlis
vilo substitute for tho genuine article Ia much
more general than would be believed by any ono
who hadnot personally investigated tho matter. It
is probable that nearly 90 por cent Of the
matorial, which, under the alluring names Of
golden sirup, silver dripa &C., enters largely into
consumption ut tile broaktast-table, especially
in winter, ia artificial product Of tho chemists
skill, and contains rank poison. The writer has
recently testea somo samples Of "yosy fno'
sirnp. served out to families, and found them
to contain tho oil Of yitriol in dangerous quan-
tity.
The substance thus operated upon Ia called Lig-
uino BY the chemists. It Is tho basis OF tho fibre
OF wood. and exists almost pure in und.esscl
cotton mud linen. Hence old rags, and other
equally Objectionable refuse substances, form
tho material out Of which this bogus sirup is
made. noyolting as are the associations called
up by this fact, very much moro serious objec-
tion Is found in tho sulphuric acid, which stiil
turks in the sirlp, and manifests its presence
thore when subjected to suitable chemical teal
When It ia known that this acid il an active Cor
rosivo poison to the human organism,
ono may well Hhudler ut tho idoa
Of boing murdered by inches at the
table. with poisoned ew oeta. Il is enough to
that exhibited by the SONS Of Tho prophets, when
they exclaimed to Elisha. "ohl thou nan OF
God: thero is death in the pot! "
Tho artificial production OF sugar from starch
has long beon practioed. It is only hundred
yeara (177s) since Lavoisior discovered the COM
foundation Of the immonso superstruoture now
known as chemistry. But tho starch Of grain
was converted iuto tho sugar Of malt. by artitl-
cial means, long before that time. And
the cheaper methods of obtaining aug
ar from starch, discovered Bince thou,
are equally harmless, and almost equally freq
from objection. But these processes do not
satisfy tho greed OF tho present day mud 10
sirup.makors now resort to sawdast, rags, aud
possibly to many other kiula OF vegetable fibre,
from which thoy may develop the sirup by the
aid Of powerful acids. Tnes, changes are
effected iu tho natural growth OF tho vosota-
bio; but thoro the acds ara ull eliminated in
tho process, and tho alkaliea loft il tho lbrous
structure Of the plant
Tho oharactor Of these changes forms worry
interesting group Of facts in organic clotn-
iHtry, and they aro 80 simple as to
be easily prosontod to tho ordinary mind
though not understood by tho most profound
philosopher. It Aas boon proved by chemical
analysis, many tisneB ropea:ed, and by many
different investigators, that the osseutial sub
stance Of wood abre (LignIno), starch and tho
different kinds Of sugar. differ IN their compoai-
tion only a. they contain moro or less OF oxygen
and hydrogen. in tho proportion In Which those
gasoa unite to. form wator. Thus, pound Of
Liguiue Ia composed OF OUNCES Of carbon mud
ouuoos Of water. Adding ounoaa Of wator,
no lavo the constituents Of 10 ounces Of staroA.
| Another ounce Of water gives 10 ounces Of
cane sugar. or sugav-gum which differ
| only In tile ARRANGEMENT OF thoir component
tnoleonlea. Add one moro ounoe Of wa:er, md
| wo Aaye 90 OUNCES Of mik.su3hr; still an-
othor ounoe glyes orgot-sugar. Quo moro ounce
1T water giyos us "a ouncos Of grapo-sugnr,
which, therefore. consists Of half Il pound Of
k,.I.A