New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-13
FRACDS IN TIE SALE OF FOOD AND
DRUGS

DRUGS
4 CONGRESSIONAL committee made some in
oniries recently in regard to the adulteratlon OF
tea. 1t was learned that "A large quantity OF
the tea imported into this country Is adulterat-
ed or of inferior quality caused by the admix-
ture of exhausted leaves. The Committee re-
solved 10 report n bill to remedy tho evil.
Afterward it was proposed to amend the bill 80
M 70 make IT apply TO adulteratcd sugar also,
and there the matter rests.
IL by more legislation Congress can prevent
or lessen the practice of adulteratlng tea and
,upar or other articles Of food no time should
be lost In doing it. IL is growing evil from
which n patient and long suffering people call
for relief. So far "a this State is concerned,
however the wrong Is not due to want of
legislation. II any thing, there are too many
lava ON that subject now on the statute books
This is particularly true of the acts that apply
to the adulteration of butter or the sale OF oeo-
margarine and lard-cheese, as can easily DO
shown. The same difficulty exists in enforcing
these laws as with those that apply to lotteries
and rum shops. AS "a rule Distrlct-Attorneys
and others whose duty it is TO prosecute do NOT
want TO 90 further in that direction than they
are Obliged to go. They. fear 1t may hurt their
marty OF themselves when they come up for
r,-election. What Is most needed, therefore,
ia some way TO compel the well-fed and highly
maid public officials to do their duty. The only
remedy for the evil probably, is in public opln-
ion as expressed at the polls.
Under the sanitary code of this city the local
authorities have had the power for many years
TO prevent the sale of adulterated articles OF
food. but with the exception OF the occasional
arrest of few milk-dealers, no attempt is ever
made to enforce that part OF the code. TWO
wears ago very stringent State law was enact
ed to prevent the adulteration OF food and
drugs. and the newly created State Board of
Health was given the power to adopt such
measures rs seemed necessary to secure the en-
forcemcnt of the act, aud to employ the neces-
sary inspectors and analysts The apparent
results of this law and the expenses incurred
uuder il. 40 far, are shown in q bulky volume
recently issued giving the second annual report
of the State Board of Health, with other docu-
ments.
Experts were employed to analyze and report
on various samples of food and drugs purchased
in different parts of the State. Ot the AZ sam
ples of butter examined, 81 were pronounced
rot genuine The sophisticatiuns OF mix were
found to be Extremely common" lne loca-
tons were ascertained OF SO 1creamerles' that
Send slximmed milk to this city, which is sold
On its arrival as whole (pure) milk. OF the
SAMPLES of olive oil Analysed, proved to be
aduIterated. Lard was found to be adulterated
and in some cases unwholesome. or $50 sam
ples of bakers chemicals and breadstuffs exam
med 80 were adulterated, and out of III
SAMPLES of -four. In the matter of spices the
proportion of adulteraced articles was 112 out
of $50, the percentage of adulteration in
single article, cinnamon, being SIS. There
were 20 samples of quinine pills examined, and
in every case the amount of quinine sulphate
was below that which 1t was proiessed tho pills
contained. In ground coffee 10 out of 81 sam
pies contained foreign substances, and one sam
Pile consisted wholly of roasted hominy. Honey
was purchased in antimonopoy grocery stores
that contained 80 per cent of artificial glucose,
and maple syrup that contained 80 per cent