Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-01-09
The following analyses were made by
Uucrystslizable

MoIASses ~ u =
Noiasses, better quality y is Y
syrup, low grade. ,,,,. - -
syrup, best grade. 9Sts At y
Syrup. lighter grade II. - - ~
SNrup, thu, Malerrd,,, II - >,
We may note in these results, the
greater proportion of water and much
lower proportion of cane sugar, than is
shown in Prof Chambers analysis. In
some cases, at least, it in icates wa
tered sample,
The last sample was undoubtedly
manufactured from starch. This was
also indicated by the presence Of SUI
phuric acid tine agent used in the con-
version of starch into grape sugar.
CONFECTIONERY.
1t would he very gratifying for us To
be able to state that the class OF articles
which are included under this head
were rs free from communications rs
their Saccharine constituent, but this is
far from being true. The addi,
ton OF non-saccharine and earthly
material TO increase bulk, and the use
of injurious or poisonous llayoring and
coloring material is tar too common for
the welfare Of our candv-eating popula-
ton. The list of bulk increasing sub
stances comprises chalk, gypsum, pot
ters clay, flour and starch, all but one
of which we have detected in our exam
nations, 0ut of sixty samples exam
med by us, forty-eight, or four, illlhs Of
the whole contained flour or starch;
eight contained chalk or carbonate Of
lime, and five contained gypsum, Two
of the ostuuSatisiactory samples were
tested quantitatively for sugar, che of
which contained sixty-eight and the
other only fifty per cent. of that article.
OF Coloring matters detected, the led
pigment was found To be cochineal III
each case; blue eolors were produced by
indigo in two instances ut least, while
the yellow pigment i'll the majority Of
cases proved to be chromate Of lead,
The motto lozenges were found to be
quite generally weighted with chalk and
gypsum; the fancy candies, almost uni
versally contained proportion OF
starch, while the stick candies were
found free from either.
The only safe practice to follow when
known, is TO wholly avoid the yellow
candies and the motto candies gener-
ally.
GROUND SPICES.
The pungent properties Of most OF
this class of articles, together with their
high market value, combine to make
the work of adulteration both easy
and profitable, hence the statement
that almost every sample of these
articles that we have examined has
been found adulterated will occasion no
surprise. Impurities, too, have bcel
found in some samples, which matters
ally injure the value and healJhiuness
of these condiments.
In the four samples of cayenne pep
per which we examined the adulter-
ants detected were starch, yellow
ochre, carbonate of lime and sand.
None of these We're perfectly pure, al
though one sample contained little ex-
traneOus matter except iron.
The samples of black and white pep.
per which were examined, gave rather
better results. Only two Of these con-
tity and one of these containing also
iron. The specimens were not tested
for the whole list of adulterants and
probably others might have been found,
Two examinations were made upon
ground cinnamon, in one of which
flour starch was present in large guam
titles.
The adulterauons to which ginger il
subject are much harder to detect than
is the case with most Of the other
spices. The ginger root is composed OF
starch granules, colored cells, woody
fibre and ducto, and moreover, If the
brown or unclaimed roots are used n
certain amount of earthly impurity is
always present. With this great varie-
ty of microscopic structure the detec-
ton of foreign admiXtures is quite diiii-
cult. A much larger proportion Of
starch was found in some samples than
in others which would imply that meal
or starch had been added i'll some
cases. Three of the samples examin.
ed were brownish-yellow in color and
contained much woody fibre. The
ash remaining after igniting n norton
! of each Of these equalled seven pei
cent. of the whole, was of reddish
brown color, and gave strong reaction
for iron oxide and carbonate Of lime
while considerable quantity Of sand
was found rs insoluble residue. These
were doubtless manufactured from I'M
cleaned roots, and perhaps both the
sand and iron were present rs impurl
ties and not as adulterants, but OF thai
we have no proof.
The remaining samples were much
cleaner and were doubtless made from
roots that were properly prepared.
Ground mustard was found to i,
most commonly and dangerously adul
terated Of any article Of TODD that wal
examined, and the ten samples exam
/ ined displayed the extent and diversity
of the fraud in their widely dissimiia
shades of color and physical proper
ties; the colors ranged. from brigh
gray yellow to a bright and reddish
tint, and in other physical propertie
the distinctions were quite 81 marked
OF bulk-increasing constituents nin'
samples contained starch ln yaryini
quantities. one III least contained gyp
i orr,, and another panmqn galt