Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-02
BUTTER AND IT'S INVITATIONS
A New Test BY which Butter May Be
Distinguished from OIeOmargarfne

Distinguished from OIeomargarfne.
Washington Dispatch to the New York Herald
The Microscopical Society of the
district of Columbia, Wednesday
night heard Professor Thomas Taylor
the chemist at the Agricultural De-
partment, on the subject of Butter
and It's limitations" The lecture was
illustrated with experiments in fifty
different tests. The result was that
the members, without a dissenting
voice, agreed that the experiments
demonstrated the certainty with
which the pure article could be detect
ed from any attempt at imitation,
and also showed the position and
manner ia which evidence could be
given in court of the correctness of
the micrcscopical tests. Pennsylvania
having followed New York in the en-
actment Of the most stringent law
against imposition on the people in
the sale of oleomargarine, the dis
covery of Professor Taylor, by which
the enforcement of the law is made
possible, will be welcome news to the
dairy interests of the country. Pro
lessor Taylor says that about six
years ago the House Committee on
Manufactures sent samples Of what
appeared to be butter, in print form,
to the Commissioner Of Agriculture,
with the request that they should be
examined by the microscopic Of the
department, who should report as to
the nature OF the substance, whether
butter or oleomargarine, to the CONS
nllttee. Up to this period he had had
no experience with oleomargarine, but
now gave the subject serious consid-
Grafton and reasoned somewhat IN
this way: Acids under the micro
scope; fatty acids are polarizing
bodies, therefore with the aid of the
polarizing prisms will exhibit all the
rainbow tints On making this test
he was delighted to realize the correct
ness of his suspicious, the crytals of
fat beng distinctly seen, accompanied
by a gorgeous display Of prismatic
colors. AS real butter has no free
fat, it gives. under the same circum-
stances, plain and evenly distributed
color. He reported in accordance
with the facts that the samples sent
him were 'oleomargarine."
IMPURITIES DISCOVERED.
on seeing the results expressed them,
selves as perfectly satisfied. Those
interested in the manufacture of cleo
margarine and butter substitutes,
however, seemed rather dissatisfied,
and fresh parcels OF the oleo mixtures
were sent day by day to be tested. He
went on examining, and as result
discovered IN many Of the samples
sent many impurities, such as micro
scopic blood vessels and animal It's
sues. The manufacturers, on seeing
this, found it to thei1 advantage to
bring samples frequently to have their
courage tested. The result Of these
Investigations led to the production
Of superior qualities of oleomargarine.
The liquid oil was strained through a
finer mesh and the bottom impure
layer was sold to the candle factory.
The very perfection of the material,
for time, almost bid defiance to de-
lection.
A NEW SUBSTITUTE.
In the course Of his experiments a
sample Of a new kind was sent by a
private citizen for examination which
seemed in some respects unlike oleo-
margarine, and which yet resembled
butter neither in taste nor smell, the
latter having a rich odor when good
and fresh, and possessing a strong
rancid odor when old or of poor
quality. New experiments had to be
made. Under polarized light in the
usual way it gave the pure butter test
"a plain, solid color evenly distributed,
the color being determined blythe selin-
tie plate used. He then determined to
try the effect of few drops of strong
sulphuric acid combined with the SUBJ
stance. He was aware from some
previous experiments he had made
that when sulphuric acid was combin-
ed with small portion of pure but
ter rich salmon color was produced,
while when oleomargarine made Of
beef fat, as were the first oleomargar~