The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1889-03-02
SPURIOUS SPICES.
How Pepper and Other Condi-
mentS are Adulterated.
Revelations Made by a Govern
ment Microscopic.

DR.. Thomas Taylor, microscopic oil
the United States Agricultural depart
mcnt, is engaged in making microscop
ic examinations Of a mum Der OF sampler
OF condiments purchased at various
stores in this city. Samples of pepper,
allspice and cloves are now und ergoing
scrutiny. In almost If not in every
sample examined some adulterant can
be found. The condiments are pur-
chased at stores and delivered in her
metically sealed packages bearing the
names and addresses of the manufac-
turers. The labels are numbered and
carefully put away for further refer
erc,. Both the whole berries and
ground condiments are purchased. DR..
Taylor said to Star reporter that the
investigation was mainly for the pur-
pose of finding out simpler methods by
which adulterating ingredients may be
detected.
In making the Investigations he had
observed that the common adulterant,,
brickdust and sand, were not used so
much now as they were formerly, but he
has found that stone cells Of olive
and other seed and cocoanut shells, he
thought, were the principal adulterants.
They have no taste or smell, and he
saw no reason why they could not DO
used in all condiments. To make mi
croscopic sections of black pepper
berry is inserted in wax tip on a com.
mon cork, and by means of a micro
tone, q new invention of DR.. Taylor's,
shaving thin enough to be transparent
is taken from the berry which is buried
in the wax. This is transferred to
glass and photographed for the pur-
pose of ascertaining its structure.
1t is also drawn in colors, stains be-
ing used, enabling one to detect the
various substances.
Dr. Taylor has obtained from the
olive and vine farm of s. Z. Good
rich, in California, a quantity of olive
stones. The stones were ground to
powder and passed through the finest
sieve imaginable. BY subjecting a
portion of this powder to the micro
scope it was found to be composed of
what is known to the botanists as
stone cells. Urder polarized light
they are very brilliant and easily dis
from the stone cells of the
genuine article. As compared with
the stone cells OF black pepper they
are long and narrow. As already
stated, another adulterant used is
ground cocoanut shell.
The powder made by the shells is
much darker than that mado by the
olive stones, which is of yellowish
hue. The cocoanut shell powder is
more suitable to ginger and spices. The
structure Of the different combine nts
having been determined, it can easily
be ascertained with the microscope
whether or not any foreign substance
has been introduced in it and what the
substance is. Black pepper, when
good, said DR.. Taylor, will have fair
share Of the black skin covering of the
berry. When there is a scarcity of the
black skin in the pepper and it appears
streaky. the article is apt to contain
some adulteraut Authorizations, he
said, can easily be dete cted by the fn-
gers. All that is necessary is to put
some of the article in water and rub it
between your fingers. II an adulterant
has been used the stone cells can be
felt. Alter taking your fingers from
the water some of the stone cells will
remain on them.
When asked whether the result of
the microscopic examination would hold
good in prosecution for selling adulter-
atcd food, the doctor said that there
was not tho slightest doubt but what it
would. lie aid that microscopic tests
OF bogus butter had sto cd il the courts,
but he knew of no convictions whore
the analysis was made by chemist. -