Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-03-09
POISONS IN SYRUPS.
MURIATIC ACID AND RAGs-STARTLING
EXPOSURES.


Readers who dote upon huckwhcat
pancakes and sugar syrups may be
startled on learning that three-quarters
of the syrup now in market is made of
sawdust. paper, rags and starch, chemi-
cally treated with muriatic acid Scienti-
fc authorities have of late directed at
tention to adulterated and bogus syrups
sold in our cities, and the developments
are such as to warrant the boards of
health in taking immediate and thorough
measures to protect citizens from gross
and wicked imposition. A reporter,
having made inquiries in the matter, is
able to give some important facts.
The first person visited was compe-
tent chemist residing in Waverly Place,
whom the reporter found very commun-
icative. Said the chemist; This bogus
sugar-syrup is one of the vilest and
nastiest compounds ever made. 1t is a
well-known chemical axiom that sui phur-
ic acid has magical effect upon woody
fiber, such as found in fax and cotton.
Therefore linen and cotton rags furnish
the most productive sources Of the princi-
pal 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 a
cheap chemical so the manufacturing
of these articles into marketable syrup
cannot fail to be a very profitable enter
prise. The delectable compound is made
in two large establishment in New York,
and also to great extent in Chicago,
Boston and New Orleans
How can bogus syrup be detected 2
inquired the reporter.
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 pnt n snnnnf,,l
of suspected syrup into a cup of strongly
stepped tea. The muriatic acid in the
syrup uniting with the tannin will turn
the tea into black, dirty looking liquid,
which no fastidious person would dream
of drinking. Bah it 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
muriate of baryta' which is very cheap,
and can be procured at any drug store,
which also furnishes an admirable test.
Put some muriate of baryta into the
suspected syrup made of rags and muria-
tic acid, there will be white precipitate
at the bottom, which sediment will be
quite thick after standing few minutes.
Armed with this scientific knowledge
and fifty cents worth of muriate of baryta
the reporter started on tour of inspec
tion among the hotels and restaurants
The first place visited was well-knowI
establishment not far from the City Hall
The customer seated himself at one o.
the tables, and ordered pancakes anc
syrup. When the cakes came they
were fresh from the griddle and steam
ing hot. Here you are, sab = said th'
waiter, as. with a grand flourish, th'
ebony attendant slid cup of suga
syrup on the table close to the customer
plate. Give me cup of tea, said tn
customer to the waiter, and it was furnish
ed. Some of the syrup was poured int
the tea, and the result was a black com
pound The syrup was of the paper
rag and muriatic acid variety, and it
needless to say that it was not used
tickle the palate of the reporter. To cor
firm the first test the customer furtivel
poured some of the syrup into gla:
with some muriate of baryta wate
The result was white precipitate.
: Severly other eating establishment
were visited with a like result. III
test was tried at number Of frst-cla
hotels and boarding houses, and in thr'
cases out of four, the syrup placed {
the table was Of vile, poisonous an
Il unwholesome kind The bogus syrU
is sold by grocers who claim to be no
Z est and first-class dealers, in all par
of the city. The bogus article real
r looks finer to the eye than the genui
. syrup made from sugar cane. and, ther
> fore. purchasers are easily deceive
N The fact that "sweetening" could
) made from rags and muriatic acid "
J. first discovered by distinguished Gc
man chemist. and crafty Yankee specul
tors were not slow to appropriate t
Y discovery and make it useful to the
d selves. Sulphuric acid is poisonO
W compound, and very injurious TO t
as human stomach. 1t is, in reality, not
lff ing more or less than refined oil Of Y
be mol The bogus syrup is often ton
is up with a solution Of lead and be
black, or animal charcoal, Is used
the manufacture. This bone-black
. made by charring the bones Of anima
a which are furnished in large quantit
81 By the fat, lard and tallow-renderi
O establishments. and from the BOZ
IL thrown away from the tables Of hot