Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-05-10

ATIAmeu3A kBU1e ZUDeneeA,
The compound others which have been found
are several innnmbef. MS
Butyric ether may Be prepared by mixing
and alcohol. The former acid may be made b '
mixing decaying cheese with grape-susar an
chalk and allowing fermentation 10 take place
Tie ether is dissolved in another portion OF al
cohol and forms the pineapple essence.
Felargohtc ether, @nAnthic ether, may be
Prepaie ed by digesting pelargonic acid with al
the action Of nitric acid (aqua-fortisl ON oil OF
rue. The ether lie dissolved tn alcohol and for ms
the ounce essence.
Acetate of amylic ether is prepared by distil-
ling mixture OF fusll oil, acetate of potash and
concentrated sulphuric acid. An alcoholic solu-
ton Of the ether forms the jargonelle pear es
sence.
Valerianate of amylic ether NAV he made bv
the action o. sa.phuric acid and vaierianic acid
upon fusil oil An alcoholic solution OF this ether
forms the apple essence.
A mixture of acetate of amylic ether with hu-
lyric ether forms the banana essence. Other
mixtures of the others. modified by the addition
OF various agents, as nitrous ether, acetc acid.
camphor. tincture of orris, vanilla, the volatile
oils ETC., result in limitations OF other fruits the
strawberry, raspberry, apricot, currant, etc,
etc.
Are these artificial fruit essences deleterious to
health? succinct answer to this question cam
not properly be given. If taken into the stom-
ach in any considerable quantity, and in an I'M
diluted form, the effect would, without doubt,
be not simply deleterious but highly dangerous.
But, in the form In which they are presented in
confectionery, ETC., they are more or less diluted;
the chance, therefore, of harm following their
occasional use is greatly lessened. But even
when diluted, habitual indulgence in them, ac-
cording, to the opinion OF scientific men, cannot
fail to be injurious to health. And deleteriOus
suits may follow their occasional use, even when
in the diluted form; this may happen in the case
Of adults, on account of a peculiar idiosyncrasy.
And in all cases, probably, children are more
susceptible to their influence than adults. Chill
M Eal fbav, .1,.1k 49,
largely of confectionery, and a free indulgence
in articles of this kind, in a season Of the year
when disorders. OF the intestinal canal are pre-
ders, or to ageravate them when existing.
II Is, however, sometimes the case that suf-
icient dilutiOn OF the favoring ether has not
such Tbe TrteT siye
formed by a distinguished chemist and ph ysician
that, within his personal knowledge, two chill
dren5one Of them, indeed, his own child-were
hollow toy, candy anchor, with alarming seda-
tive symptoms, requiring active medical treat
ment. Enough of this liquid was secured to
prove that it was favored with the artificial
pine apple essence.
When these essences first came into use. con-
fectionery favored with them was exceedingly
popular; but 1t was not long before ii became so
evident that indulgence in such confectionery
was attended with evil results, that caution was
given IN the newspapers of the day, and the sale
OF the "Tuit-drops," ETC., greatly diminished.
Dr. Hasseu, in his "Adulterations Detected"
says: 4" Many articles of ugar-cOnfectionery are
fiavOred with essences" which are often of an
injurious and even dangerous character, some
of them containing prussc acid and fusil ol-
81 have heard" says Prof. A. s. TAYLOR. .sthat
some of the jargOnelle rear-drops and the rib
and stupOr in children. Its an imposition on
the public to sell in this way a Chemically IA
yored substance under another namev
As regards the use of these artificial fruit es-
sences, il is an undoubted fact that thew are
very extensively employed everywhere for fla
voring iellies, confectioneryof various kinds and
syrurs for soda water. They are also used i'm
the manufacture of factitious wines and Other
alcoholic liquors. They are found to be less
adapted to ices than to the other articles men,
toned, and are probably used i'm them to a very
limited extent, and not at all by confectioners
of any repute.
Although the use of the artificial essences in
sOda-syrups is common enough, a general
thing the druggists and apothecaries do not use
them TO a great extent. Those of the best re-
pute probably do not use them at all. They all
agree in using citric or tartarc acid in place of
lemon juice, on account of the difficulty in
keeping pure lemon syrup for any length OF
time. Both citric and tartaric acids however
are true fruit acids, the former coming from the
juice OF the lemon and the latter from cream Of
tartar, which is a deposit from wine. If used'ip
the proper amount, neither of these acids can be
deleterious in an occasional summer beverage.
Except i'm one or two instances, the lemon syrup
was still further Appropriated to the genuine
article 10y the addition OF oil Of lemon. Without
exception the oils of WINTER green and sassafras
were dUutu W 10 supple
ment the tavorless preparation of THAT root.
Oil of anise is SAID to be sometimes used in ad-
dition to the two oils mentioned. In one in
stance, there was no sarsaparilla whatever I'm
the syrup bearing that name, which was sim
ply mOiasses and water favored as usual Prob
ably the greater part of the so called sarsapa-
rilla syrup dispensed with saltwater in obscure
parts of the city, and at the smaller apotheca-
ries everywhere, is quite innocent of the famous
root. 1t is the fountains in just these local
tiles that are visited by the class of persons who
periodically think that their blood is scout of or
der, and who select sarsaparilla syrup with the
| object of purifying it, drinking the beverage
with the most undoubting faith in its virtues.
1t may be mentioned that, when the essences
are used in the syrups, q small portion of either
citric or tartaric acid is used to give a slightly
tart taste. Where. also, the syrup is to repre-
sent the flavor Of any of the red fruits, as the
strawberry, for inst nce, coloring matter must
be added. This is generally made of cOchineal.
The sarsapariha syrup, Also, generally receives
little cOloring, except when molasses' is used,
and the coloring substance is caramel.-Repori
Of Board Of Health.