Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1889-01-25
OUR TRICKS OF TRADE.
THE CHEMIST THE MAGICIAN OF
THE PRESENT DAY.

Always Beneficial to the Public-Thc
Business of Adulteration systematically
Carried Cn-The Results.
In this era of universal enlightenment
tho training of the successful tradesman
is much broader than that of his prede-
ccssor Of fifty years ago. The latter con-
sidcrcd himself fully educated when he
was ablo to distinguish the quality of tie
different grades of the various articles in
which he dealt and rs very few methods
of sophistication and adulteration were
known, his tasl, was comparatively easy
one. With the merchant of tho present
day, however, everything is different. He
can depend on his own Judgment only in
very few instances. IIo must know not
only how to manipulate his wares so as
to undcrscl his competitors. but he
must be continually on his guard
which he himself buys shall be just
as represented. He may be u dealer in
woolens and buy his stock from the
deacon who passes the plate in church,
yet he never ncglects to have his samples
examined by an expert. and analysed if
necessary Cut the strongest phase of
the whole matter is that, SO universal has
the custom become. he does not consider
it any reflection on his neighbor to take
this course, and if he finds that the goods
are not as represented, he thinks none the
worse of him. after he has claimed and
secured his rebate. No branch of trade is
free from this sophistication, and rs long
Us the resulting article is not injurious to
the health of tho people. we have como to
accept it without q murmur, as TN newt
IL Ill g.,
state of affairs, it will readily be seen that
the merchant of ''yc oldcn time" would
now stand a slim chance of success unless
he called i'll outside aid.
A NEW ADULTERATION.
Tho chemist is really tho magician, who
today is sought by one party to develop q
new adulteration, and tomorrow is called
upon to analyZe the article which he has
just succeeded in adulterating. His Ia
boratory becomes the confessional for
merchants of al degrees, and he must be
as silent and secret as the clergyman. But
his power Is greater than the ccclesiastic,
who cannot read our thoughts, and who
may know only what we care to tell him.
But to the chemist all facts within his
province are accessible. If we are frank
with him, we'can render easier the work
which we have for him to do. IT, how
been withheld. he has but to mako all
analysis and the whole secret is open to
him. In his realm he is king. He says
to tho merchant, do thus, " and t he bust
ness man, realizing that his only way to
success is by following such injunctions,
| does SO, and is relieved for time. Soon,
| however. he learns that he Is being under
| sold, aud once more has recourse to the
| magician, who finds that some brother
| genins has stolen his charm, and it be-
comes necessary for him to conjure up d
more powerful one, only to have it, in
time, again stolen.
The following incident, related by dis.
| tinguished chemist, may be interesting,
| as showing how Systematically this bust
ness of adulteration is carried on. Tho
| gentleman mentioned was recently con
suited by firm of oil dealers, who were
naturally anxious to learn how it was that
their competitor was always able to under
sell them, in face of the fact that the
| chemist OF their factory could not discover
any adulteration in their rivals product.
! On analysis, no foreign substance APP
| peared, and the consulting chemist was
| forced to confess himself nonpluseo III
the course of conversation he happened tc
mention, quite incidentally, that the only
impurity he had been able to find was O
trace of petroleum oil, which he had con
sidercd accidental. The oil dealer inquired
tho amount of this oil present, and on
finding that it was about 81 per cent, i'm
mcdiately said that tho problem was
solved. Two and q half per cent, he ex
| planned, made IL barrel of forty gallons
a difference of ono gallon, and, by extract.
ing this quantity of an Oil worth fifty
cents, and substituting gallon of an in
ferior kind worth, say, ten cents, his riva
had been enabled to draw away almost al
! his trade.
POISONOUS DYES.
People have become so accustomed tt
finding the discussion of the subject OF
adulteration confined to articles of food
and drink that they are apt to consider
that this is the only part of it of any i'm
portancc Physicians, however, can tel
different story. For instance, they are
frequently consulted for disorders which
can be directly traced to cheaply dyed
articles of Dress, and many of the most
obstinate cases of skin disease are due tC
poisonous coloring matters.
Before the art of dyeing had progressed
were prepared from simple vegetable ex
t9acts Soon. however, tho demand was
greater than tho supply. and the chemist
was called upon for substitutes. Step by
step hc followed nature back to her labor
atory, and finally was able to announce
that he could produce at will in unlim
tied quantities q dye stuff which coult
not be distinguished by any test, either
chemical or physical, from the natura
product. Tho substance which he hat
made was alizarine, the coloring matter
of madden, and the article from which h
mado it was common coal tar. This dis
covery worked q revolution in the indus
trial world. Tho path, ouco it had beer
pointed out, was easy to follow, and il
quick succession came the announcements
of new colors made from this sar.o waste
product-coal tar-until at the present
day any color or tint can bs supplied
from it.
But here, too. tho practice of sophisti
cation soon became prominent factor
until the question was, not how well car
dyes be made, bat how cheaply. The
process Of manufacture is long ore, nnt
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