Montgomery County sentinel., 1883-05-18
MiscellanenMs.
ADULTERATIoNs OF FOOD.

ADuLTEKATlONS OF FOOD.
| The public is greatly concerned in all
that relates to the authorizations Of foods,
of drugs, of drinks and of tobacco The
temptations of trade in these directions
have been very great for the last few
years. 1t is to be feared that the standard
of fair dealing has been much lowered, so
that now, under the pretense Of various
grades, adulterations are made by men
who would not like to call themselves
dishonest Composition has been so
severe that the honest dealer finds him
self embarrassed by the little frauds and
cheaper sales of his neighbors. The
small package method, by which almost
every article is furnished in small par
cells, has greatly aided this system.
Many of the authorizations or admix-
lures are simply commercial frauds.
The article is deteriorated by some inert
or inexpensive substance, so that the
profits are larger, although no direct
injury is done to the health Of the peo-
pie. Yet even in these cases it s we'll
to consider how largely the buyers and
consumers may suffer in this regard.
The man who buys quart of milk for
his children will not have them 50 we'll
nourished if good part is pure water.
Many housewife, who is not poor
cook, finds her. bread or biscnit heavy,
| because the cream Of tartar or soda is
mostly terra alba or the yeast imper-
feet. The laborer and all are depend
ent upon the kind of food furnished and
healthy meal is not made out of dough.
The working classes suffer greatly from
all the varieties of cheap groceries and
food stuffs--cheap, generally, because
they have not in them the food which
the name or the price represents. In
'all these cases, although there may have
been no addition of any substance posi-
lively injurious, there has been such
diminution of food value as to tell seri-
ously upon health and life. The sub
sttutions which have taken place, also,
amount often to practical pounds against
the welfare of the people Glucose is
certainly not hurt; but, it sold for cane
sugar, it gives but part of the nutri-
ment it promises. OIeomargarine has
fat in it, and, If well made, is Of service
in the place Of butter; but, if made Of
diseased animals or mixed with the low.
est grades of oils, the system is not
cheated as easily as is the consumer.
While tea and coffee do not rank high
as ailments, yet they are recognized as
Of service in sustaining nerve energy
or in recovery from fatigue We think
that the adultcrations of those are to be
carefully watched in the interests of the
general health. Although we would
gladly expel tobacco from the use Of
mankind, yet, as is it so very largely
used, it is very important to have what
its mixtures are and whether, as is al
legged, poppy leaves or other sedalives
Or the juices therefrom are added. 1t
is fortunate that chemistry and the mi
croscope have come 40 largely to our aid
in many Of these examinations. Polari-
scopic examinations Of sugar, OF the
starches, etc., not only shows the the
character, but much AZ 10 the quality Of
material. The examination OF solids is,
as q rule, more satisfactory than that Of
fluids. 1t is an important question how
far the Government should provide for
all these tests. Already several of the
States have made appropriations for this
work. New York has well-organized
corps of analysts and is endeavoring to
prevent baneful admixtures and TO regu-
late those which within certain limits are
allowable. For instance, the reduction
Of mustard and that Of some Of the spices
is Of advantage, il only the quality and
the material are known. In law it has
thus far not been found practicable TO
draw the line between those adultsra-
tions which are fraudulent and those
which introduce dclcterious substances,
since the reduction In food value, unless
specified, is practically deduction from
health. II is 80 difficult TO deal with
every shop that our chief method Of pro-
lection is in dealing with manufacturers
and seeing to ii that these put pure arti-
cles upon the market
Flour needs to be watched as TO its ad-
mixture with alum. This so whitens the
product Of the -four as to present great
temptation. Alum in any considerable
quantity interferes much with digestion
and seriously Injuries the teeth. The pre-
pared fsurs rise rapidly and may be good
food but the chemicals added need 10
be closely watched The various forms
Of canned goods now upon the market
need most careful circumspcctiop. There
are chemical changes which these some
times undergo, as well as substitutions.
II is now not difficult by the use Of Aav-
orings 10 make jelliss Of various fruits
out Of the most inert material.
I The use Of pickles, Of ca.sup, or of
various condiments has now become so
universal that this department cannot be
overlooked. Many ease Of Brights
] disease has had its start in oyerstimulus