The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-08-30
EDINBURGH.
tFrom our regular Correspondent
EMNRI,RGH. Aug. 2


As an indication OF 'hc effort that the less
respectable portion of the British press is max,
ing 10 sweep back the ocean Of American pro.
duce which i driving home produce out of
the marNet ! lend AZ article from an Edin-
burgh paper:
"The British Consular Authorities in the
United States have Just brought under notice
Il series of facts that prove conclusively that
the Millennium is a long way OFT The cireum-
stance that it has been thought desirable to take
official cUgnlZanCe OF the statements III ques-
ton would show that they contain at least a
basis Of truth. And yet one would fam take
refuge in unbeief, rather than be forced to
conclusions that must make us blush for our
common humanity and despair OF modern civ
illzatiOn.
"For some time past, 1t appears, the attention
of sanitary authorities, public health boards,
and other bodies who look after the temporal
welbcng Of the population OF the States, has
been specially drawn to the universal adulte-
ration of articles OF food and drink; and bush
els of reports, statistics, analysis records and
recommendations have been prepared and pub
hshed on the subject. These have been seized
upon by Il Mr. Angel, of Boston, who has com
pressed the results into the compass OF pa
per- which has provoked much controversy
and discussion and constrained even those
who are most jealous Of their country's pre-
emincnce in all thing, 10 acknowledge that, IN
this matter OF adulteratiOn, American invent.
ivencss and audacity have been pushed to the
utmost limit OF human endurance. There is
scarcely Il substance used by man for the COM
fort or support Of his body which the Ameri-
can adUtclators have not found means to COM
bine with some foreign and generally delete
rious matter. They have poisoned the cup OF
pleasure and embittered the crust OF poverty.
Nothing Is too cheap to escape deterioration /;
and nothing so rare and precious rs to be he
yond the reach of their sacriligous touch The
reports of eminent Massachusetts, chemists are
quoted To show that mustard Is extensively
adulterated with chromate Of lead cayenne
pepper and carry powder with red lead, and
vinegar with sulphuric acid, corrosive subj
mate and arsenic Indeed according to one
scientific authority, half the vinegar now sold
IN American cities is rank poison
"a Boston chemist selected and analysed
twelve packages of pickles taken from twelve
different wholesale dealers; copper was found
in ten of them. Disgusted but hoping better
things, he examined sixteen other packages,
and discovered poison in all. Sauces, syrups,
ielies, preserved fruits and the like, have been
found to be equally dangerous preparations.
These, however, are only the tlavorings OF our
daily food; the solid constituents OF tilt may he
hoped will show better results, Not at all In
addition to the chalk, plaster OF Paris, sand,
clay and bone dust that 90 into the compost
ton of the flour of commerce, large quantities
of damaged and unwholesome grain are
ground in with it, In New England there are
several mills constantly employed in grinding
a white stone found in that country into pow
der tor purposes Of adulteration. In one town
in Massachusetts thousands of tons Of it have
been sold, and have been deposited in the stom
achs and systems Of the American people, with
such effects as may be imagined. Three chlei
grades Of it are supplied to meet the require.
ments of trade-hour grade, sugar grade and
soda grade Truck loads of it Are despatched
every day to distant cities; the general dealer
drives it into his warehouse by the cartload
and the retail grocer comes boldly for the bag
full that suffices for the adultcration OF his
humble stock
Surely liberty has never given more as
founding proof Of its capacity for develop
ment than the spectacle of these busy, thriving
mills, merrily grinding the stones that are to
be offered to the people as bread, none making
them afraid.
"Of the adulteraton Of milk, we think we
know something in this country. Our dairy
keepers and milk. dealers are, however, it APP
pears, far behind American experts in this art.
A medical commission appointed by the
Boston Board of Health has reported that over
a million and halt of gallons of water are an
nuallv sold in that city as milk, half a million
dollars IN money being paid for the same. ms
is sad enough but it Is doubly vexing to
know that this water is itself not pure, being
probably drawn from impure streams and barn
yard wells near the city, and therefore fertile
source of disease for those who have been
swindled into drinking it. Water, of course
is not the only ingredient of Boston milk, for
in addition to a certain proportion of the genu-
inc produce of the COW, "a number Of other and
more mysterious substances are introduced IN.
to the large tins or watts where it is prepared
for the public consumption CA. ,.
Splitting Paper.