Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-02-20
MARGARINE DEFENDED.
Analyses of Captured Butterine-A Physl.
clan Gives His Ideas-No Poison as in
Bad f3utter-Heroic Cures.

Analyses of Captured Butterine-A Physl.
clan Gives His Idens-No Poison as In
Bad Butter-Heroic Cures.
Some interesting chemical tests have been
made of the samples of the oleomargarine
purchased by the detectives for the informa-
ton of Attorney William Yost and the
associated merchants behind him.
The analyses are from the best chemical
experts in the city, and, while not minute,
are sufficient for the occasion. They are in
teresting to all bousekeeperS as showing
just what they put into their confding
stomachs daily under the mask of butter.
A sample of pure butter is first given in
order that comparisons may be easily
made:
Pure butter-Water, 10; salt, 5; curd, 4, and
butter fat, 81.
Slight adulteration-Wate 8; salt. 2; curd,
10; butter p; oleomargarine, Is.
Adulterated-Wat 9; salt, 311S; curd, 21I;
butter, 81; oleomargarine, IS.
Adulterated-Wate 6: salt. 4: curd. 5: butter.
So: oleomargarine, "a
oleomargarine-Wat s; salt, 8; curd, L;
butter, II; oleomargarine, r.
The names of the firms selling the above
samples are not given, as they have not yet
been arrested. However, they may enjoy
the unique position of reading the Grim
mating evidence beforehand, with the
cheerful assurance of Mr.. Yost that they
will probably be arrested this week. y
Poor, despised oleo has gained most un-
expected, but most valuable, champion in
the shape of one who most certainly should
know what he's talking about especially
when his scientific hobbies are appealed to.
DR.. Joseph n. Dickson was shown the
above results of chemical tests of bogus but
ter, and he declared at once it was shame
that good, pure oleomargarine should be
adulterated with bad butter in the manner
it is.
He said he was no chemical expert, but
margarine in its purity was very healthy.
1t did not become rancid so rapidly as but
ter, and for his part the doctor preferred
good butterine to bad butter every time.
The effect, DR.. Dickson said, of eating bad
butter is far greater than supposed, because
it is so gradual. Rancid boarding house
butter, old and strong enough to walk, was
rank poison. The pure, sweet globules of
dairy butter undergo sort of transforma-
tion that changes them from healthful food
to an actual poison, called alkaline pto-
maines, or, in plain words, anhydrous
oxides, kind of alkali that enters directly
into the blood and poisons it.
This kind of poison is very hard on the
stomach lining also, and frequently shows
its harmful action on the blood by the
breaking out of pimples or eruptions, gen.
orally on the face, and warned all ladies to
beware of bad butter, even to the eating of
butterine in preference.
1t has been said by gentleman conversant
with affairs. that he honestly believes the
present agitations and arrests have been
made merely to awaken public sentiment,
so that the anti margarine law, obnoxious
alike to seller and buyer, will be repealed.
The arresting parties, however, say they are
acting in good faith, and the method of
cure, if it is one, is certainly of the heroic
mold, as the big fines paid by reluctant
dealers will show.