River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1880-01-08

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 inc icates a wa
tered sample.
The last sample was undoubtedly
manufactured from starch. This was
also indicated by the presence of sui
phuric acid, the agent used in the con-
version of starch into grape sugar.
CONFECTIONERY.
1t would be very gratifying for us to
be able to state that the class of articles
which are included under this head
were as free from communications as
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 havoring and
coloring material is far too common for
the welfare of our candv-eating popula-
ton. The list of bulk increasing sub
stances comprises chalk, gypsum, pot
ter's clay, flour and starch, all but one
of which we have detected in our exam
nations, Out of sixty samples exam
med by US, forty-eight, or four-fifths OF
the whole contained -four or starch;
eight contained chalk or carbonate OF
lime, and five contained gypsum. Two
of the most.unsatisfactory samples were
tested quantitatively for sugar, enc 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 In
each case; blue colors were produced by
indigo in two instances at least, while
the yellow pigment in 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 a proportion OF
starch, while the stick candies were
found free from either.
The only safe practice to follow when
the character of the confectionery IS not
known, is to wholly avoid the yellow
candies and the motto candies gener-
ally.
GROUND SPICES.
The pungent properties of mcst 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 been
found in some samples, which materi-
ally iriure the value and healthfulness
of these condiments.
In the four samples of cayenne pep
per which we examined the adulter-
ants detected some starch, yellow
ocnre. carbonate of lime aud sand.
None of these were perfectly pure, al
though one sample contained little ex-
trane0us matter except iron.
The samples of black and white pep
per which were examined, gave rather
better results. Only two of these con-
tanned starch in any considerable guam
| tity and one of these containing also
iron. The specimens We're 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
| -four starch was present in large guam
Titles.
The authorizations to which ginger is
/ subject are much harder to detect than
/ Is the case With most of the other
spices. eg'nger root is composed Of
starch sranuies, coiored cells, woody
/ fibre and ducts, and moreover, If the
I brown or uncleaned roots are used, q
/ certain amount of earthly impurity ia
/ ALWAYS present With this great varie-
/ " of microscopic structure the detec-