Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1885-07-02
BUTTER AND IT'S INVITATIONS
a New Test by which Butter May NJ,
Distinguished from Ole0margarine

/ ~
Washington Dispatch to the New York Herald.
The Microscoplcal 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 microscopical 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
posi- BILE, 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
mlttee. 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 polarzing
bodies, therefore with the aid Of the
polariZing prismS will exhibit all the
rainbow tints. On making this test
nc was delighted 10 realize the correct
ness OF his susp cions, the crYtals of
fat beng distinctly seen, accompanied
by a gorgeous display Of prismatic
colors. As real butter has no free
tat, 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 ''oleon'argarine. "
IMPURITIES DISCOVERED.
Several members of the committee
on seeing the results expressed them
selves as perfectly satisfied. Those
interested in the manufacture Of ole0-
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 a 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 1t TO their 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
finer mesh and the bottom inpure
layer was sold to the candle factory.
The very perfection of the material,
for a time, almost bid defiance to de-
lection.
A NEW SUBSTITUTE.
In the course of his experiments
sample of a new kind was sent by a
private citizen fer examination which
seemed in some respects unlike cleo
margarine, and which yet resembled
butter neither in taste nor smell, the
latter having 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 sub
stance. He was aware from some
previous experiments he had made
that when sulphuric acid was combin-
ed with a small portion of pure but
ter Il rich salmon color was produced,
while when oleomargarine made of
beef fat, as were the first oleomargsr>