Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-10
A SUBSTITUTE FOR SUGAR.
IL IL . Product OF Coal Tar and Probably
VIII Prove an Inn portant Industry.

IL IL . Product OF Coal Tar and Probably
VIII Prove an Important Industry.
An industry still young, but unquestionably
with great mercantile future, 10 that OF
ssccharine, product Of coal tar. 1t Il SUBJ
stitute for sugar has none of It's bulk. and ID 50
powerful that it is three hundred times sweeter.
The history Of It's discovery Is interesting
writes Commercial Agent washburn Of Magde.
burg.
In 1879 DR.. Constantine Fahlberg, Q Russian
by birth, but who had been educated in
Germany, became connected with the Johns
Hopkins University in Baltimore. There be
conducted series Of experiments on the
toluene sulphamides, in order to investigate
their oxidation products. The outgrowth Of
this investigation was the discovery OF
saccharlne. BY oxidizing pure orthosoluene
sulphamide it was found that it would yield a
remarkably sweet compound. The amount OBJ
tanned, however, was too small to be Of any
practical value for manufacturing purposes.
The problem thenceforth was to find other re-
actions which would give a better yield Of the
sweet body. long and exhaustive series Of
laboratory experiments extending through
several years were necessary for the satisfactory
development OF the chemical process Of pro-
duction.
As might be expected, discovery Of such
practical utility had to run the gauntlet Of
much hostile criticism 1t formed fruitful
subject for discussion in various scientific So
cieties and Journals Attempts were msde to
show that it WAS not only deleterious, but
dangerous 1t Is only fair to say, however,
that these arguments seem to have been sue
cessfully controverted. An overwhelming mass
OF expert testimony is recorded in favor Of sac
charine. Eminent professors, like Sir H. E.
Roscoe, in London; Leyden, in Berlin; Paul,
In Paris; Won Barth. in Vienna. and a host Of
others, after thorough tests, have certified that
the effects Of saccharine upon the physical and
psychical functions Of the brute and human
systems are entirely harmless
Saccharine in its pure condition is white
powder Various exclusive advantages are
claimed for its use in the arts, household and
medicine. To enumerate few: 1t il SO small
in bulk that the saving in storage and freight
Is, OF course. very great; its valuable antiseptic
qualities make it especially available in pre-
serving as well as Nv setenng. articles of food,
such as jeilies, fruits, a.; its understandable
character. In the distilling Of brandies and
liquors and in the brewing Of beer saccharine
has been used with signal success. Mixed with
glucose, saccharine has q sweetness equal to the
finest refined sugar. Further, saccharine serves
distinctly medical purpose. 1t is employed
to disguise the unpleasant taste Of medicine
and in the preparation of medicated wines and
other cordials. 1t has also been highly in
dorsed as substitute for sugar for those suffer-
ing from diabetes and from fairness. Unlike
sugar, it does not go to form surplus nourish-
ment. Finally, it may be added that this
highly concentrated sweetening substance re-
quires only a little intelligence to be success
fully used in the household.
Saccharins should never be taken in q pure
state. Some idea Of it's power will be conveyed
when it is understood that one part Of it will
give a very sweet taste to ten thousand parts of
water. Tasted in too large quantity, as DR..
Fahlberg observes, it acts upon the nerves in
such way as to paralyze the sense of taste;
just as powerful music stuns or deadens the au-
ditory nerves or a bright light acts upon the
optic nerves.
DR.. Fahlberg has. in connection with his part
ncrs, devoted himself of late years to the plac-
ing Of this commodity on the market in practi-
cal form. 1t is manufactured and put up in
three ways, viz, pure saccharine powder. easy
soluble saccharine in gravel form and saccha-
rine tablets The two Latter preparations con-
tain small percentage of bicarbonate of soda
and are more available for cooking purposes.
The factory-and. SO far as l am informed. it is
the only one OF its kind existing is at salbke-
Westerhusen, on the Elbe. Patents have been
obtained In most civilized lands, and monopo-
lies of sale (Which dcbar the manufacturers
from selling direct exist in many countries,
including the United States.