Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1883-12-25
M Frankel e2 Sons.
ADULTBRATION OF FOOD AND
hs DRUGS.

a..f DliUdHs
The New York Legislature at its last
session passed law to prevent the ad.
liberation Of food and drugs. The duty
is committed to the State Board Of
Health OF ascertaining what articles are
adulterated, and the Sanitary Committee
ofthe board has appointed eight chem.
lists to make the investigation. To
each of these chemists certain kinds Of
foods or drugs are to be assigned for
purchase and analysis. The Sanitary
Engineer has already directed attention
to three classes Of articles adulterated,
which, in his opinion, require to be
analysed, exposed and checked. The
United States exported last year to
France and Italy l,66S,5A gallons Of
cottonseed oil. It is what may be
called can open secret" that much Of
this oil comes back to us as "pure
olive OIL" 1t is also known that
quantity Of cottonseed oil does not 60
abroad, but is put up in bottles resem-
bling those Of foreign make, and labeled
"olive OIL" and sold as such. Another
article adulterated is CASTLE soap. Thit
iscommonly regarded as the purestarticle
Of its kind, and is consequently in great
demand for certain purposes. But near.
ly all the CASTLE soap, even that put to
medical uses, IS now said to be more OIL
less good or bad limitations, the purity
of the soap being at this time an ex.
ception instead Of rule. Our wines
are also largely adulterated. and some
Of the beer and ale that is so largely
consumed in this country have been
subjected in the brewing to similar
fraudulent processes. The New York
Sun gives long account Of the adul-
terations practiced in the aforementioned
articles OF drink, and prints the opinions
Of physicians as to the effects produced
in drinkers by cocculus and cannabis in.
deus, glucose, etc., effects especially
noticeable in diseases Of the kidneys.
Glucose, wheA properly made, and
freed from the acids used in its manu-
facture, is said to be harmless, and the
same harnlessness is attributed to
oleomargarine when the manufacture is
conducted with due regard to cleanli-
ness and the fat in the process OF con-
version is pure. In both cases these
articles are held to be deleterious when
the acid in glucose has not been COM
pletely removed, and the fat from which
oleomargarine is made is Of on inferior
quality. In Chicago it has been COM
monty reported that it is the almost
general practice there to mix stearino
with commercial lard for the purpose Of
hardening it. Spices also are largely
adulterated their character easily per-
mitting uhscrupulous manufacture and
handling. OF twenty-seven samples Of
mustard, carefully selected in New York
from responsible dealers, DR.. Smart
found that only six were entirely pure.
1t is consoling, however, to be told that
authorizations in this country "seldom
take form that is dangerous to health" ;"
However this may be, there are possibil-
titles Of such peril wherever adultera-
tions are resorted to. A purchaser VIII,
pays for pure article and does not get
what it is guaranteed to be should have
some stringent power Of redress, and
this is what the English law and what
the law just passed in New York under
take to give, besides aifording inciien-
tal protection to tho public by author
izing rigid system Of inspection. --i'at-
'in,orc Sm.