National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-08-11

suit was complete discoIcration Of the infusi0nl
81 green tea Which had given green color 70 the
Nitrate, and formation OF blush white sediment
S0Pis,ins Of sSE1hH line and GTids Of ehrO@s
paint, (indigo) oxide Of chrome has been used fol
eoloring purposes, because tails substance would
not interfere BY comblnation with tannln.
The black teas and their red infusiOns were
also entirely discolored oy this treatment with
hyperehlorite CT lime, which proves the presence
giving red color either natural to the leaves OF
artinelally mixed with them.
FOURTH OPERATION,
Discrimination Of tneln-Ten grhmmes OF each
specimen were taken, each one was mixed sepa-
rately with I'VE RTBmmes Of hydrate, alkaline,
lime, and treated with boiling alcohol; then NJ
tered and eyaporGted to dryi then again dis
nnrnose 81 sSnarati5 ~ tba, ~ - az ~ s se
then again evspOrsted to dry and weighed The
tea then was submitted to microsooplcal exami-
nation with the polarisator.
found the needle form Of ehrystaIs with double
refraotlOn, Characteristic to theln, for chemical
proof Of which took small parts OF this them,
adding TO IL few drops Of nitric acid and hydrate
Of ammonia In excess, producing the strawberry
red color which 10 the peculiar reaction Of them
The following Is the rsSpeotiTe percentage OF
Nos. ], rs, and contain from Q. 50 to o.s5o Of
them. Nos. 3 and contain no thein at all.
The normal percentage Of them in genuine and
pure ten being from Zoo up 10 40o, Further com
ment Il unnecessary.
Mieroscoplcal examination Of the eight speci-
i d.
pOWder.) Leaves torn into small fragments, which
gummed over-some- Of them have the form and
veins Of tea leaves, but a very large proportion
have red border, which proves them to belong
70 the plant named rosa galliea."
Nos. and 3, (imperial,) very much like the
foregoing, with the exception that the leaves are
not go much torn and less carefully folded up.
Leaves Of "chlOranthus ineonspiculs and OF
.'camella sasangua," and also 'Tosa galliea" are
found in proportion. ....
Black tea, No. s.-Thfs specimen in form of
leaves is similar TO the above but with large ad-
ditions Of "epilobium augustifOlium," which IS
the Of the dark red color OF the infusions OF
this tea No. and are almost entirely made
out OF epiloblum augustifolium, with a large pro-
portion OF stems and cutup branches Of this plant
SUGAR.
Eight specimens have been examined Ouan-
ttty OF water in hundred parts: Nos l and s.
(bTOwn.) SO; Nos. 2 and Q, Qight brown Us; Nos.
and I, (White powdered,) O.9; Nos. 4 and g.
(sugar poWdered,) 90. Substances now soluble
in water in hundred parts: Nos. l and s,
very small quantity Of charcoal; Nos 2, 6,3,T,
and 8, all soluble in water and leaving no residue
Solutions Of iodine have produced no reaction on
proves absence Of starch or -four. Absence of
copper or lead is demonstrated as sulphurate.
Hydrogen has produced no reaction In any one
Of the specimens examined. MicroscOpical ex-
aminstions OF brown sugars, Nos. l, 5, 2 and O.
present with difficulty the discovery Of some
hbre OF sugar-cane and Of small quantity Of
oily substance. In Nos. l and there is more
than ten per cent. Of incrystallZable honey sugar
increasing greatly the sWeetenlng property.
CoFFKE,
(already roasted and ground.) Four specimens
have been examined separately. Infusions Of hot
water, with addition Of nitric acid passed through
sulphurated hydrogen, have not produced any re-
action. Consequently there is no presence Of cop
per, lead, sc. Mlcr0scOpical examination Of four
specimens Of coffee, already roasted and ground :
No. l, adulterated with large proportion Of quer-
sessihora or queScus robur, (acorn,) about two
thirds. No. q adulterated with quercus sessihora
and rain Of Taraixacum aflclnalls, (eichorium in
Albus.) No. 8, adulterated with small quantity
OF TAralxacum afhcinalis. No. 4, noadulteratIon
was found. In addition to the foregoing report,
which is hereby submitted, It may DO stated that
considering the hygienlo interests OF the public
there are no particular suggestions to be made re-
gsrding the trade Of sugar ana coffee not ground,
but with reference TO my examination Of the DIFF
ferent varieties Of tea and ground coffee consumed
IN this country Il must be advanced as an absO-
Lutte faot that the commercial sWindling in the
tee trade, - practioed on the confdlng oommunl-
ties, has no boundary. The hlgh-prlced teas, es-
peclally the green teoB, are BY no means superior
In quality TO the loH.prlcod ones, except IN tho
mechanical manipulation Of their fraudulent
manufacture, and In the nature OF their adultera-
lions with paints, sc. Therefore the committee
might be Instructed accordingly, and thus bene-
fted In health and pecuniary interest OF tho same
time.
The report was ordered to DO filed, and the
board adjourned.