Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1883-12-18
<DULrksArfoS or FooD AND
DRUGa

DRUGs.
Tho New York Legislature at It's last
session passed a law 10 prevent the adj
alteration Of food and drugs The duty
II committed 10 the State Board Of
Health Of ascei tanning what articles arc
adulterated, and thesanitary Committee
ofthe board has appointed eight chem
ists 10 mako tho investigation. To
each Of these chemists certain kinds Of
foods or drugs are 10 be assigned for
purchase and analysis. The Sanitary
Engineer has already directed attention
10 three classes IL articles adulterated,
which. in his opinion, require TO be
analysed, exposed and checked The
United States exported last year TO
France and Italy i,6Gs. ga gallons Of
cottonsecd oil. II is what may he
called can open secret" that much Of
this oil comes buck 10 Us as "pure
olive OIL" ID Ia also known that
quantity Of cottonseed oil does not go
abroad. but is put up IL bottles resem-
bling those Of foreign make, and labeled
solve oil, F" aud sold as such. Another
article adulterated is CASTLE soap. This
iscommonly regarded as the purestarticle
Of its kind. and is consequently IN great
demand for certain purposes. But near
Iy all the CASTLE soap, even that put 10
medical uses, Is now said 10 be more or
less good or bad limitations, the purity
Of the soap being at this time an ex-
ccption instead q rule. Our wines
are also largely adulterated. and some
Of The beer and ale that is 10 largely
consumed in this country have been
subjected in the brewing 10 similar
fraudulent processes. The New York
Sun gives a long account Of the adul-
ternfions practiced in One last-mentioned
articles Of drink. and prints tho opinions
Of physicians rs 10 the effects produced
in drinkers by cocculus and cannabis in
deus, glucose, etc, effects especially
noticeable in diseases Of the kidneys.
Glucose, when properly made, aud
freed from the acids used in its manu-
facture, is said 70 be harmless, and the
same harmlessness Is attributed 10
oleomargarine when the manufacture Is
conducted with due regard 10 cleanli-
ness and the fat in the process OF con-
version IA pure. In both cases these
articles are hald 30 be deleterious when
the acid in glucose has not been CON-
pletely removed. and the fat from which
oleomargarine Is made is Of an inferior
quality. In Chicago II has been COM
monty reported that IL Is the almost
general practice there 10 mix stearine
with commercial lard for the purpose Of
hardening IL Spices also are largely
adulterated; their character easily per-
hitting unscrupuIous manufacture and
handling. OF twenty-seven samples of
mustard, carefully selected in New York
from responsible dealers. DIR. Smart
found that only six were entirely pure.
II is consoling. however, 10 be told that
authorizations in this country "seldom
take form that Is dangerous TO health.
However this may be. there are possibil-
tiles Of such a peril wherever adultera-
tons are resorted 10. A purchaser who
pays for pure article and does not get
what II is guaranteed 10 be should have
some stringent power Of redress, aud
this is what The English law and what
the law just passed IN New York UNDER
take TO give, besides affording inciden-
tai protection 10 the public by author
izing a rigid system Of inspection.-BaL-
tinlore SnL