The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-03-13
POISON IN sYRUPS.
Nursssic Acid and Rags startling ESPc-
sWrrs.

thorities have of late directed attention
to adulteratci and bogus syrups sold in
our cities, and the developments are
such as to warrant the board Of health
in taken immediate and thorough meas
ures TO protect our citizens from
gross aud wicked imposition. "A repor-
ter having made inquiries into the matter,
is able IA give some important facts.
The first person visited was a compe-
tent chemist residing in Waverly Place,
whom the reporter found very commu-
NEGATIVE. Said the chemist: This bo-
gus sugar-syrup i, one of the vilest and
nastiest compounds ever made. 1t Is
well-known chemical axiom that sulphur
ic acid has a magic effect upon woody
fiber, such rs found in flax and cotton.
Therefore linen and cotton rags furnishes
the most productive sources of the prin-
ciple ingredients of the manufactured
syrup. Rags suitable for the purpose
can be bought for from four to six cents
per pound, and muriatic acid is cheap
chemical; so the manufacturing of these
articles into marketable syrup can not
fail to be a profitable enterprise
The dclectable compound rs made in
two establishments in New York, and
also to great extent in Chibago, Boston,
and New Orleans"
"IIow can bogus syrup be detected?'
That is easy enough" replied the
chemist. "Tannin is the thing that will
do it. Now, there is tannin in tea, and
all you have to do is to put a spoonful
Of suspected syrup into cup Of strongly
stepped tea. The muriatic acid in the
syrup uniting with the tanuir will turn
the tea into black dirty-looking liquid,
which no fisiidious person would dream
of drinking. Bah? il is too nasty to
think of for people of sensitive taste and
nerve
The chemist continued There Is an
article known by the technical term of
muriate byrata, which is very cheap,
and can be purchased at drug stores,
which furnishes an admirable test. PA:
some muriate of baryta into the suspected
syrup made OF rags and muria;ic acid,
there will he q white precipita;e at the
bottom, which sediment will be quite
thick after standing few minutes.
Armed With this scientific information
and fifty cents OF muriate of baryta, the
reporter started on tour of inspection
among the hotels and restaurant. The
first place visited was well-known estab-
lishment not far from City Hall. The
customer seated himself at one of the
tables, and ordered pancakes and syrup.
When the cakes came they were fresh
from the griddlc and steaming hot
"Here you are, sah,' said the waiter, as,
with a grand flourish, the ebony attend
ant slid cup of sugar syrup on the ia
he close to the customers plate, "Give
me a cup of tea" said the custimore to
the waiter, and it was furnished. Some
of the syrup was poured into the tea, and
the result was the black compound.
The syrup was ofpaper, rag and mnriatic
acid variety. and it Is needless to lay
that it was not used to tickle the palate
of the reporter. To confirm the first test
the customer furtively poured some of
the syrup into a glass with some muriate
of baryta water. The result was white
precipitate.
Several other eating establishments
were visited with a like result. The
test was tried at number of irst-class
hotels and boarding houses, and in three
cases out of four, the syrup placed on
the table was of vile, poisonous and I'M
wholesome kind. The bogus and I'M
Wholesome syrup is sold by grocers whe
elaine to be honest and fr:t-class dealers,
in all paris ofihe city. Tie bogus arti
Gle really looks finer to the eye than the
genuine syrup made from sugar cane
and, therefore, purchasers, are easily
deceived.
The fact that "5gcetening" could Be
made from rasi and muriatic acid wa
first discovered BY distinguished Ger
man chemist, and crafty Yankee specu.a
tors were not slow to appropriate the dis
coycry and make it useful to the mselves
Sulphuric acid is poisonous compound
and very injurious to the stomach. !
l., in reality, nothing but refined oil 0
vitrol. The bogus syrup is often "tone'
up" with a solution of b oue-black, or ami
, NAL charcoal, is used in the manufactpr
Thi, bono-hack j. made hy CLEARING tn
the bones ofanimals. which are furnishes
in large quantities hy the fat, lard am
tallowresd efing establishment, and from
the tables OF hotels, restaurants and hous
keepers. The fact that the bogus suga
, syrups is much lighter in color than tn
genuine rticle, aud Therefore more al
tractive to unwary purchasers, makes 70
5 the unwholesome stud a large and lncreas
} ed demand. Purchasers avoid III
= genuine syrup because it is dark an
t unsightly, and, therefore storekeepers fin
p it drug ON the market
, The pubclicis also swindled in an artiel
: of artificial honey, which has Of lat
e years been extensively placed nron tn
market. This bogus stuff is called cloy
er honey, but its origin, instead of beini
the fragrant clover blossoms in rura