The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1879-01-26
WHAT PEOPLE EAT.
CHEERFUL REVELATIONS BEFORE THE
AMERICAN SOCIAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION
IN BOSTON.
From Paper by Mr.. George T. Angel.


From Paper by Mr.. George T. Angel.
Cayenne pepper is adulterated with red
lead, mustard with chromate of lead curry
powder with red lead, vinegar with sui.
| phuric acid, arsenic and corrosive subli-
mate. 1t is stated that probably half the
vinegar now sold in our cities is rank poi.
con. One of our Boston chemists analyzed
II packages of pickles, put up by 12 differ
ent Wholesale dealers, and found copper in
10 of them. Many of our favoring oils,
syrups, jeilies and preserved fruits contain
poisons. The adulterations of tea are too
numerous to mention. Coffee is not only
adulterated, but patent has been taken
ont for moulding chicory into the form of
cCtf.e berries, and l am told that cav ia
now moulded, and perhaps favored with
an essence, to represent coffee. Cocoa and
chocolate are adulterated with various
mineral substances.
Several mills in New England, aad pro.
baby many elsewhere are now engaged in
grinding white etone into o fine powder
for purposes of adulteration. AT some of
these mills they grind three grades-soda
grade, sugar grade and flour grade. 1t
sells for about half a cent pound. Flour
has been adulterated in England, and pro
badly here, with plaster of Paris, bone
dust, sand, clay, chalk, and other articles.
1 am told that large quantities of dsmaged
and unwholeaome grain are ground in With
flour, particularly with that kind called
Graham flour. Certainly hundreds, and
probably thousands of barrels of "terra
alba, ,"Or white earth, are sold in our cities
every year to be mixed with sugars in con-
fectionery and other white substances. l
am told by an eminent physician that this
tends to produce stone, kidney complaints
and various diseases of the stomach. A
Boston chemist tells me that he has found
75 per cent. of "terra alba" in what was
sold as cream of tartar used for cooking
A large New York house sells three grades
of cream of tartar. A Boston chemist re.
Gently analyzed sample of the best grade
and found so per cent of "terra alba" in
that. Much ofs our confectionery contains
53 per cent, or more, of 'terra alba" The
Co!oTiag matter of confectionery frequently
contains lead, mercury, arsenic and copper.
Baking powders are widely sold which
large percentage of sierra alba"
and alum.
milk. Thousands of gallons and probably
hundreds of thousands, are sold in our
cities which have passed through large tins
Or watts, in which it has been mixed with |
various substances. Recipes for the mix |
tnre can be bought by new milkmen from
Did on payment of the req quired sum. 1 am |
on what / believe to be reliable |
authority, that thousands of gallons OF So
called milk have been, and probably are,
'old in this city which do not contain cne
1rop Of the gen uine article. Large guam
titles of the meats of animals more or less
diseased are sold in our markets. Cows
n the neighborhood Of our large cities arc
ed upon material which produces a large
low of unwholesome milk. Poultry are
ed upon material which produces un-
wholesome eggs. Meats and fish are made
lnwholesome, frequently poisonous, by
areless and cruel methods of killing. A
california chemist recently analized many
amples of whiskey, purchased at different
laces in San Francisco. He found them
dulterated with creosote, salts of copper,
lum and other injurious substances. He
tates it, in his published report as his
pinion that there is hardly any pure
'hiakey sold in that city. A gentleman !
ecentIy purchased from a prominent os-
IN firm a cssk of pure sherry wine for his {
ick wife. His wife grew worse He had "
le wine Analysed, and found there was 2
OF drop of the juice of the grape in it. u
n eminent medical gentleman of Boston
lid to me: "The adulteratioDs of drugs v
| this country are perfectly abomir able" II II
say that laws should be enacted aud en-
reed prohibiting the manufacture and
lie of these poisonous and dangerous .
ticles under severe penalties, and com y
elling the manufacturers and sellers of u
l1lterated articles to tell buyers the pre- b
se character of the adulteration.