, 1890-10-18
Sacchal.ine.

chemist, 1t Is extracted by a rather ~prOtrac.
ted process from the tar formed in the dry
oIstli alton Of coal. In a pure condition It is
a white anonymous powder, the sweetening
capacity of which is three hundred times
that OF the finest refined sugar. When the
discovery was first announced it was natu-
rally received with incredulity by persons
who regarded it as one of those fctions IN
which the United States is so fruitful.
When, however, through the publication Of
the process, 1T was possible to produce sac
charlhe III any laboratory, the fact of the in
ventlon had 10 be admitted, but it was be-
heved that the product had only value as a
pharmaceutical preparation. The fallacy of
tins was speedily demonstrated, for, favour
ca by Its comparative cheapness and some
other circumstances, it soon acquired an inl-
portant position in industrial life. 1t readily
found employment in the manufacture of pre-
serves, sweets, chocolate, liqueurs, and even
IN the production of wine and beer, in tic
place of sugar, VIII ch till then had been ex-
cluslyely employed. 1t was only nat4ral
that the Fahlberg discovery should stimulate
other chemists to fresh experiments in the
same field, and among the competing articles
arose the so-called methyl saccharine, patent
ed by the proprietOrs of the weli-known tar
mandatory at Iudwigshafen-o IN Rhine,
The growing popularity of saccharine VS.
the means OF attracting the attention Of a
number of Governments, who were mainly
concerned with the question as to the IN
huence Che new product would have on IT,.
revenue. Several authorities also affirm that
the use of saccharine was not altogether con
ducive to health. In this relation the results
of the experiments of a number Of scientists,
undertaken at the instance of a Comite con-
sultatif dhygiene, of Paris, are Of much
JA-- -A-ItI ~
rine restrained the assimilation by digestive
organs of starch and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
foods taken at the same time, in consequence
Of its antiseptic properties, and that it was
itself no food stuff, as after being eaten it
underwent no alteration, and was expelled
from the system in its original condition.
In view of these circumstances, ne Dutch
delegates at the international Conglass for
the Abolition of Sugar Bounties, held i'm
London in 1883, were induced to recommend
the adoption of a common line of action on
the part of the governments against accha-
rine. Nothing has, however, been Jointly
accomplished, but a number of governments
have since adopted measures of more o. less
severity with the object of restricting the
consumption Of sacclariue III place Of sugar.
Apart from England, in which country an
act has been passed prohibiting the employ
I16LG Oh SacClldIiE6 III Gu6 pfOQuctlOn OF eX-
disable articles, beer in particular, the Portu-
gaese government was the first to adopt
decisive measures. In the royal decree IS
sued the 9th of August, 1888, the importa.
ton into Portugal of saccharine and saccha-
rine-containing products was entirely prohibi-
ted, excepting for medical purposes, for
which special permission had to be obtained
on each occasion. The importation of sac
charine into France and Algeria was prohi-
bited by a decree of the president of the
republic dated the 1st of December, 1883.
In a decree dated the Sd of April, 1889, the
Spanish government not only prohibited the
Importation of saccharine into Spain, but
also made its employment in food stufs as a
substitute for sugar a penal offence. In
Belgium; the. law of the 21st of May, 1889, i'm
posed an entrance duty of 140 francs per kilo.
on saccharine and on all articles containing
Town to J per cent. saccharine. In Holland,
saccharine has for long had to pay an ad
valorem duty of 5 per cent, as a drug, but it
is probable that the long entertained ipten-
ton to impose a daty of 60 forius per kilo.
will be carried into effect. BY a decree
dated the 26th of July, 1880, the Italian
government placed an entrance duty on
saccharine of 10 lire per kilo., but it soon
became apparent that SO light & duty was
neither in the interest of the state or Of the