The Portland daily press., 1885-04-13
OIeomurRariue,

To the Editor of the Press:
have noticed several interviews in your
paper with the trade in regard to the sale Of
oleomargarine. would say that the interests
of the dealer in all matters Of this kind are
the interests of the public, and if they can be
made to understand the danger they are in
curing in selling this vile stuff it will not be
very difficult to create public sentiment that
will lead to the absolute prohibition Uf its sale
in this State. Ignorance OF the nature of oleo-
margarine is the foundation of all the sale it
commands. Ii consumers knew what it is
they would never buy it. II the better class Of
dealers knew how it is made they would not
recommend it against pure cream butter, be-
cause it is cheaper.
Prof. John Miehels, in the American Jour
nal of Microscopy, on the subject of oleomar-
garine, gives results of microscopical exsmi-
nations; also Prof. Piper, who, in referring to
his drawings showing the forms in which salt
crystals arrange themselves under the micros-
cope, the presence and shape of living organ
isms. fungi, ETC., in oleomargarine, states that
the eggs might be killed under high tempera-
ture, but experience had taught him that
germs remained at 240 degrees, and he had
found at these degrees germs like tape worm
meat. He states his examinations have been
extended over several months, and he has
never yet found specimen which, on being
treated with boiling water and washed with
ether to get out the fat, did not reveal very ac-
tive living organisms, fungi, bacteria, etc.
The fact that they are always present shows
that there is a putrefying substance present
He regretted that there is so little general in
formation regarding this subject When peo-
pie wake up to proper appreciation of the
~ ha +ha nj oh inn
in Germany.
1t was my privilege while visitin. Boston
short time ago, through the courtesy of gen.
tleman who is trying to educate the trade up
to higher standard on dairy products to
examine through the microscope q sample of
oleomergarine. This was supposed to be as
good as any article of the kind manufactured.
Ii you have ever seen q live cheese you will
get some idea Of how this looked under the
glass.
Now the question arises what course shall
the dairy man take to protect his interests?
What action shall the pablo take in this mat
ter? Our answer is that we have law against
the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine
butter. Will the public take hold aud help to
crush out this great fraud? And If there are
any who after reading these lines want this
oleomargarine let them find a man who is
willing to sell lit, knowing what it is. Then
let the customer call for it under its proper
name. III sold in this way, we think the sale
would be very small in this State.
Ask the manufacturer or dealer who sells
oleomargarine for butter what he thinks Of it,
and he will tell you it is just as good as butter
and cheaper. Ask him if he takes it home
and he will tell you no, his family are very
particular, but this would be just as good if
they did not know what it was.
In all candor say, with what have seen,
if there is any danger at all in introducing an
imaiculs into the human system, there is no
better WaV than by eating oleomargarine III
we are willing to fill ourselves with the germs
Of death, let as have full understanding of
the matter and know just what we are doing.
had intended to have gone more fully into
the details Of the manufacture of this stuff,
called butter, which the manufacturer says is
just as good as real butter: but will leave
that topic for some future article, and 1 trust
your paper will always be sopen to every ef-
fort that will be made to secure protection
against fraud and adulterations. n.