Evening star., 1877-08-11
The Board OF Health.
ADULTERATIoN OF LIQUORS, MEDICIl
AND OILS DISCuSSED.

ADULTERATION OF LIQUORS, MEDICINES
AND OILS DISCUSSED.
A meeting of the Board OF Health was held
last evening. A communication was received
from property holders on II street, between
4th and 5th streets northwest, asking the
board TO recommend to the District Com
missioners TO have q sewer laid in that local.
tty TO carry of the waste water which now
frequently overfows the pavements. The
communication was referred. A communf-
cation was received from II. ID. Gilman and
other property holders in South Washing
ton, calling attention TO the James Creek
car al, which they claim should be arched, /,
as IL is useless for the purposes OF nayiga-
tton, and the amount OF sewage which flows
into il makes IL a nuisance detrimental to
health; referred TO sanitary committee A
communication from the health officer was
read, asking that the further interment of
dead bodies be prohibited In the Ebenezer
burial ground, near Congressional cemetery
as the ground is now full, and interments
cannot Low be made except by placing the
bodies on those previously Inferred; referred
to the comDi ittte on ordinances.
CHEMICAL EXPERT WANTED.
Or. Cox offered resolut Oh 'sthat a COM
mittee OF three be appointed to inquire into
The eXpediency OF employing an accom-
plished chemical expert for the purpose OF
inspecting articles of food drugs medicines
H. Ifammab ble oils and liquors (alcoholic win
Gus and fermented) for sale in the District OF
columbia. and to report as To the most feasa-
pie meihod of accomplishing this important
DIR. Cox urged the importance of this sub
Ject Tor the dilutiOn and adult Grafton of
articles OF food ard mecicines has now be-
come common. While the inspectors did
their duty cODscientiously there was often
The need OF a practical chemist. and es-
pSclslly for the purpose of ertaining the
purity OF drugs. Formerly the adulteratiOn
o. rugs was done abroad, but il had extend
et 10 Wholesale houses I'm this country
IfeX had here class of highly respectable
ntcllleent, and responsible druggists, and
sometimes there are imposed on them adul-
terat q or diluted drugs. Quinine, an article
In general use, was frequently adulterated
ard rendered inert; iodide of potassium was
often mixed with bicarbonate of soda aud
nux vOmica, an article of great value when
pure, II often of no use. II was unnecessary
filed with accidents. They all knew the
effects OF liquors, and in the purest condi-
ton they were often the source of disease;
tut they ale ddulterated for mercensry pur-
poses. There are wines on sale which never
saW the juice of fhe grape, old sour wines
Swf cteDtd with sugar of lead aud colored
with log wood and even beer is now among
the adulterated liquors. BE regarded the
subject as even of more importance than lhe
Cleaning of streets.
FOOD ADULTERATIoNs.
DIR. ' Nerdi said he had labOred hard, over a
year ago, to secure the esta blishment OF a
bureau on this subject, and remarked that
nearly every article in common use to day
was aduiteratod. IL was more important
tEan any olher subject. Go into any grocery
and you Will be amazed at the amount OF
adulteration. To day there are probably not
over Two places in the District where pure
olive oil can be had, and the most of ii sold
IS made from lard, each bottle costing but
10 cents, and yet IL is often sold at SI5O per
bottle.
LEGAL VIEW.
Prof. LangstOn opposed the adoption of
The resolution on the ground that IL did not
come within the scope OF their powers; they
were limited TO articles of food and on that
subject they had already legislated. If the
object of the resolution was to seek an
amendment OF the law he would favor it, but
Alter some further debate the word "food',
was stricken out, and the resolution was
accepted. Drs. Cox, Bliss and Verdi, were
appointed the committee. The board then
" ent into secret session.