National Republican., 1880-09-10
PRACTICAL SCIENCE.
Yesterdays Session OF the Social Science
Association.
A Adulterntions In Everything We Eat, Drinl
and Wear-Giucose and oleo-
margarine.
Interesting papers on Familiar subiects.

interesting fnpcrs on Tamtltur suDJeCts.
SARATOGA, N. Y, Sept. 9.-At last evenings
session of the Social Science association, Pro.
fessor s. w. johnson of Yale college read a
paper on the "adultoration of food, drugs and
domestic articles" He gave history of the
food adulteratons in Eugla nd for over five
hundred years, particularly in the use Of alum
and other substances in bread Next TO bread
Is the adulteration Of milk. Regarding sugar,
the use of glucose and other articles for the
adultoration of cane sugar is less common than
Is supposed. In glucose Is n healthy sub.
stance, and IL used would do no harm. Cam
dies arc adultoated by mineral poisons used
for coloring, but generally snch use has been
tho result of ignorance. Notwithstanding tho
great talk on the subject of tho adulterations
of food, very few have been discovered in this
country in tho articles mentioned. Alum is
used in somo baking powders, but some
chemists say 1t is not delcterious In the
quantities used. A communication from
the state board Of health of Michigan was
read, which asked tho association to agitato
aud arouse public opinion in favor of punish
ing adulteration. George Il. Angel of Bos-
ton began his discussion of tho subject by
reading his proposition for tests, previously
read at tho morning session. Ho contendcd
that aduterations of food, clothing and other
articles were more common than was allowed
by Professor johnson. He read n letter from
Professor George A. Mariner Of Chicago, who
said he had found numerous adultcrations in
sugar aud other articles. Professor Romson
of Baltimore and Professor Nichols of Boston
controverted the strong statements of Mr..
Angell aud said they were cxaggcrations.
| Professor Remson said that person who
| should use glucose syrup TO the extent OF
| two gallons ut ono time might be in
jured by deoterious substances. There
in Professor Nichols deprecated the out
cry against glucose, which he said was
u harmless article of food but which, by reason
of prejudice, could not be sold under its proper
name. He had no objection to tho use OF
| glucose or olcom0rgarinc, and would buy and
use them in preference to some other articles
Professor johnson spoke again, dcprccatinp
| the reports of general adulterations of food
aud Mr.. Angel reiterated his assertions oI
authorizations, fortified by moro testimony.
Hon. b. ii. Bristow took the chair aud in
troduced Il. l.. Godkin OF New York, who
read paper on
| I'll BEL AND ITS LEGAL REMEDY"
Tho difficulty in regard to tho laws on the
subject of libel has been in drawing the line ol
| license in regard to the freedom of the press
Newspapers are charged in free countries
| with kind of supervision over general affairs
The only efficient inspection OF candidates fol
| office is done by the newspapers. This they
| could not 90 IL ntlu 10 rigid fWleS. a tllnlu
press would be useless. While the law seem
ingly protects a mau against libel completely
there is in truth probably 10 injury to which
q man is exposed in civilized society from
which the law does so little to protect him
Grand iures are reluctant In most cases to
find indictments for libel, aud few who com
mence private suits care to prosecute to tue
end and undergo n public trial. Then again
the law requires in some cases a proof o.
special damage. 1t is doctrine as
serted in the books that tho law pro
tccts property, not reputation. Numcr
Gus cases were cited from law reports
Thousands nre deferred from seeking lega
redress for attacks upon their character by th'
slowness of justice. Tho power editors have tt
disturb the peace of mind and to injuro th'
| private character ofindividuals is not abuscC
to anything like the extent it might be, con
sidering how little the law does to prevent III
abuse Editors make remarkable display o.
successful resistance TO temptation in this re
spect The paper by +. j. Kiugsbury of Wa
terbury, Conn, on
PENSIONERS on A REPUBLIC"
advocated the allowance Of liberal pensions t,
judicial officers for life, TO commence when
ever old age or declining health rendered thu
officer unable to longer perform his duties
also, to presidents aud some other officers.
Mr.. Dormau b. Eaton Of New York gav
his approval.