Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-29

ought never to 70 into q human stomach.
1t. too. is cumulative in its action. AMI
line red is not poisonous If pure. yet, like
other sniline colors, it is Objectionable on
account OF its liability to contain arsenic az
times. It does not seem feasible Tor con-
fectioners to have each package analyzed
for the mineral. but manufacturers Of these
dyes might easily put them up free from II
for such purposes as confectionery. NO ar
senic was found, however, IN the samples
containing the aniline red.
Chrome yellow, or canary yellow cnro-
mate Of lead, found in one sample OF canov
and in two of the wrappers, is OF course
cumulative poison; though the quanCLy
present. in the candy at least, was small
That in the candy was mixed with Pfusslan
blue to make green.
Most Of the foregoing poisonous colorlng
matters were painted on the surface OF the
candies though in some instances they were
intimately mixed with the entire mass.
Now the remedy Tor this state of things IS
not in letting candy alone The writer has
received many letters stating in effect that:
eff the advice given in the adulteratlon
articles recently published in THE DIS
PATCH were followed ones daily dietary
would be narrowed down to air, and 1t Is
questionable ii even that is pure" NO
these columns; what has been urged is to
nav reasonable prices for things, or DO
without them. This is doubIy true OF
candy. If you want to get pure goods OF
this kind don't expect to get them for less
than glucose is worth; If you do you Will
get pipe clay and worse. If your
money is limited buy clear, uncol-
ored goods such as rock candy. The
good old fashioned taffy is as wholesome as
anything in the candy line; though COM
monty considered as very prone to ferment
in the stomach, it is not SO. Never buy
cheap limitations Of fine grades of confec-
tionery, such as the so-called French can
dies; for they are pretty certain to contain
nine CLAW or similar substance. Highly
Favored preparations should be avoided for
the reason that they contain large quantities
of essential oils or artificial essences, both
of which are Objectionable. The oils are ir-
ritating to the stomach, and the artificial es-
sences are made in most instances from fusel
oil, an acid, and oil of vitriol. Few IT any
of the s'pure fruit essences" used for flavor
ing confectionery and various other things
contain any fruit juice whatever; they are
products of the chemical laboratory. For
instance the acid Of rancid cream cheese.
when mixed with methyf alcohol and oil OF
vitriol, yields on distillatlon fragrant es-
49,
of the commercial 'pure fruit juices.
MORPHINE IN COUGH DROPS.
Five samples of ''cough drops" were ana
lived for opium and its alkaloid, morphine.
The latter was found in two of the five SAM
pies; and in one other specimen there was
good ground for suspecting the presence OF
ipecacuanha. These are powerful drugs to
be sold for indiscriminate use under the i'm
preston they are candy. :.
On reading the foregoing list OF 1mpur1-
ties and adulterations found, the skeptical
| will ask: "If these things be, why do we
not hear of some one being poisoned every
day?" In the first place the quantity Of
poison is usually small, SO that immediate
| effects are not produced and ultimate effects
are overlooked or attributed to something
else. A short time ago Philadelphia
baker was convicted of poisoning a number
OF people by chromate Of lead, which he
had put into rolls to give them semblance
| of eggs, which were absent. The same
poison had been used before. but it was only
when used in comparatively larger quantity
than usual that immediate toxic effects vert
produced. Again, many cases OF sickness
| in children supposed to be due to oYereatinG
of candy are doubtless due to impurities il
the confection; and there are numerous au
| thentic cases Of poisoning by confectionery
colored with poisons. Of course thert
are many colors which are quite
unobjectionable, and from these eonfeetion-
cry Of all tints may be produced; so that i
may not be inferred from the foregoing
that all colored candies are poisonous. /
is only the very lowest priced that justify
suspicion. And here it should be stated
| that confectioners who use poisonous color
do SO in most cases ignorantly; forthey are no
aware of the true nature OF the preparation
knowing it only by its common name. Th,
same cannot however be said OF the mar
/ who puts pipe clay in his chocolate creams
A prominent confectioner told the writel
recently that if good adulteratlon Law
were passed in this State and enforced, quite
a number of confectionery concerns would
have to go out OF business, as their only
trade was in goods which, by reason of adul
teration, were placed on the market at &
lower price than genuine goods could bt
produced for, The writer's analyses GER
tainly confirm the candy mans opinion.
| CHEVALIER q. JACKSON M d.