The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-01-23

Modern civilization has developed So
cieties for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, and in some few instances SINH
lar organizations to prevent cruelty to
the juvenile members of the human fam
lily, but as against some of the most fear
full dangers that beset mankind in this
country there is mparatively no pro-
lection. The use of deadly poisons in
the manufacture of domestic articles and
clothing, and the adulteration of staple
articles of diet, if we are to credit one
half that is alleged by chemists and
scientists, have reached that point where
nothing but organized associations and
stringent legislation will save the Aneri-
can people from the most direful conse-
quences. In a general way we have here
tofore called attention to these evils At
this time some facts will be repro
duced which were stated at a
recent meeting of the American Social
Science Association at Baltimore, contin-
ing ourselves to the adulteration of food
and drinks.
1t is broadly stated by an eminent
chemist of Massachusetts that almost
every article of food now sold in this
country is more or less adulterated, and
that many of these adulterations are ex-
tremely poisonous. This assertion
sustained by the Scientific American and
many analytical chemists in our large
cities. A few cases in point: Cayenne
pepper is adulterated with red lead, mus
tard with chromate of lead, curry pow
der with red lead, vinegar with sulphuric
acid, arsenic and corrosive sublimate.
1t is alleged that more than half the
vinegar in use in cities is rank poison.
An analysis of twelve packages of
pickles put up by twelve different whole
sale dealers, showed copper in ten of
them Another chemist analyzed six
teen packages and found copper in all
Of them. A large portion of 1avoring
oils, syrups, jellies, and pressed fruits
contain poisons. The adulterations of
tea and coffee are too numerous to be re-
peated here. A patent has recently been
taken out for molding chicory into the
form of coffee berries, and clay is now
nodded and favored with an essence to
initiate coffee. Cocoa and chocolate are
mixed into various mineral substances
Many mills in the country, and partic-
ularly in New England, are engaged in
grinding "white stone" into fine powder
for adulteration. This sells for about
half cent per pound. There are three
grades of this "whte stone" prepared fol
market, the mercantile names of which
indicate the purposes to which they are
put, viz: soda grade, sugar grade and
aour grade. Flour is also adulterated
with plaster of paris, bone dust
sand, clay, chalk and other ar
ticles. Damaged grain also enters
largely into the lower grades of -four
Thousands of tons of "terra alba" o.
white earth are imported to mix with
sugars, confectionery and other whit,
articles of diet. Physicians say tina
these apparently neutral substances tenc
to produce stone, kidney complaints anc
various diseases of the stomach. Owe
seventy-fye per cent of "terra alba" ha
been found in what was sold as cream o
tartar for cooking purposes. Bakin!
powders of our large manufactures con
tain from thirty to seventy per cent. o
"terra alba"
The coloring matter of confectioner
often contains lead, mercury, arsenic an
copper, hence the great slaughter of tn
innocents, especially during and afte
the holidays.
We have endeavored to summariz