The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-09-11
LIVE FORMS IN SUGAR.
a Philadelphia Professor Says They Are
Duo to Snakes and Lizards.

Duo to Snakes and Lizards.
ut seems hardly fair to offend sensir
tive stomachs by revealing such knowl-
ctigc," remarked Prof. Henry Lehman,
the wcll-lSnown chemist, In discussing
the story in the Philadelphia Inquirer
about the insects in sugar, ''but tho
presence of the mites in the cheaper
varieties is,duc to such things us bugs
lizards, and little snakes which arc
ground up with the cane. In the tropics,
whore sugar cane thrivcs best. Ill kinds
Of small animal life arc exceedingly
abundant. This is especially the casa
with lizards and small snakes, which
abound i'll the canc-felds. Bugs of NIL
sizes and varieties arc also very plcnti-
full II the effort was made it would be
almost impossible to keep these crca-
lures entirely out of the bundles Of
canc which go Into tho grinder and pot,
but the people who prepare the product
orc VIGOROUSLY careless in Innttcrs OF
cleanliness, and quantities OF such 9Th
got into the raw sugar in this way. In
fact, have heard that so great quanti-
ty gets in that sometimes 1t becomes q
commercial consideration with the re-
fincrs.
According the latest view of science
sugars cannot give rise to the presence,
or support these small forms of animal
lifo. They require heterogeneous mat
tcrs, of which absolutely pure sugar
contains none. This matter ia, how
ever, supplied in the sugar in the man
ner have already explained. Now, in
this connection it should also be fully
explained that the last vcstigc of this
filth Is removed by perfect refining.
Refined sugar is just as clean as any
thing else, and only dirty In sentiment
In the cheap, low grade sugar, the in
scots, which have sprung from the nitro
gcnous matter supplied by the bodies OF
snakes, bugs and lizards, are most liable
to be found l have not given the sub.
jcct special investigation, but in the low
grade sugars they arc very prcva-
lent In order to make an intermediate
sugar some dealers mix the partly re-
fined product With white sugars and
this manner spread the mites Now, as
TO their effect on the health. They
have really no significance in the human
stomach. l do not share the view that
they arc likely to create trouble. Tho
ncids in the stomach readily destroy
them, though in the sugar they show
great tcnacity to life. So, therefore, as
menace to tho health of the commune
ty do not believe they are entitled to
any serious consideration
ITO digrcss little, for these bugs
are not very palatablc subject, near
" I'LL rcfincrs are now using ultra
marine to mako their sugar white.
There is O Spccinl demand now for vn,,,
white sugars, and the demand has
given rise to the practice of employing
this substance Us coloring agency.
1t is not, however, poisonous sub
stance. 1t contains no poisonous metal,
and SO small quantity gets into the
stomach that it really does little or no
damage, but the principle is wrong and
should be forbidden by law. 1t has q
tendency to lead in the direction of
practices Of adultcration which may
provo highly injurious, Just as the
habit Of coloring cake led to the use OF
chrome yellow q few years ago Tho
presence Of ultramnrinc in sugar IA
sometimes manifest il n blush tint in
the sugars. These sugars with the
blush tint arc very popular. Its pres
encc may also be detected by dissolving
sugar in water, in which case 1t will
form blush prccipitate. Ultrnmarine
Is made by roasting aluminous COM
pounds with soda and sulphur, and, aa
have remarked, is not dangerous"