The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-09-13

dead weight. Gypsum, or sulphate
of lime, ground to a white powder, has
also been used. Corn flour, to cheaper
the cost and admit of greater profit till
found out, has been employed perhaps
to greater extent than injurious
adulteration. 1t is not thought that
these practices are now mole than cX-
ceptional; it is probable that very
large proportion Of our flour is free
from any such manipulation. Still,
the smallest possible percentage of i'm
purity should be prevented.
The subject Of baking powders has
been investigated extensively. There
is practically no denial of the whole
someness of cream of tartar, though
one or two authorities consider baking
powder bread in general use less whole
some than that made by the process of
fermentation. The main inquiry was
in regard to the purity of the ingredi-
ents of baking powders. Consulting
chemists of several large companies
claimed that there is no appreciable
variation from 100 per cent. purity,
while other chemists found commercial
cream of tartar tn vary greatly in pur-
ity, and that some samples bought for
cream of tartar contained none at all.
A considerable difference of opinion
was found regarding the use of alum.
One chemist denied that alum is solu-
ble in the digestive juices-a conclu-
sion based on experiments on living
animals. Not all authorities were
agreed as to its solubility. The pre-
ponderance of evidence was that it
was harmful, producing injurious
effects, especially in the digestive tract,
and leading to chronic indigestion. A
German authority says that intense
nervous disturbance may ultimately
result from the absorption Of aluminous
compounds. Two legislative solutions
of the baking powder problem are pro-
posed-Q) that manufacturers be re-
quired to state the composition of their
powder on their labels, and (2) that
the use of alum be prohibited. 1t is
understood that England, France and
Germany prohibit its use.
The oleomargarine question is gone
over, with much threshing of old straw.
Coloring is considered. 1t is charged
that a color in imitation of butter, Of a
product normally white, is an attempt
to deceive. Butter is colored in winter
merely to produce uniformity, its act
ual color being yellow. A Chicago
commission merchant states that
though the production of imitation
butter is only about 6 per cent. as
great as that Of butter from cream, the
demand for fats used has raised the
price Of cattle throughout the country.
A comparison of this value with the
vast sum represented by the cattle in
dustry will show the absurdity of this
claim. A small fraction of one per
cent. would cause rise in price
scarcely appreciabe. But gain many
times as large would be no excuse for
deception calculated to injure another
branch of the cattle industry. Pros
perity by fraud is not legitimate aim
of enterprise.
Several witnesses testify TO the more
or less general adulteration of lard by
cottonsecd oil and beef stearine, not
considered unwholesome, and also by
parafline wax, to restore the consis-
tency Of lard, which is injurious.
1t is thought probable that horse
flesh is sold to some extent as beef, as
it is known that horses are slaughtered
for food, for export and possibly for
domestic use.
English sparrows arc sold for reed
birds, common wild ducks for canvas
backs, turtles for terrapin, spurious for
genuine sardines, and ether CONNER
cial or restaurant frauds in game exist.
The refners testify that sugar as
now made is pure. A conflict of testi-
mony appears as to powdered sugar,
one witness declaring it generally
with cornstarch, and an
other that it often contains an insolu-
BILE substance, probably mineraline.
1t is certain that a great deal of maple
sugar is made in large part from the
yellow sugar of the retineries. Yet
there is much maple sugar that is pure.
The extract of hickory bark has been
used to give the maple flavor, but
neither this nor other artificial flavor
has been used very successfully. Syrup
is largely adulterated with glucose, a
very cheap and not very sweet product
of corn. All witnesses favored legal
requirement of labelling all such pro-
ducts as to their composition.
The use of terra alba in candles is
Alcoholic materials in
gum-drops are reprehensible and pro-
hibition recommended. Poisonous
coloring matter has been found, as
aniline and arsenic. The principal
desire national legisla-
ton to protect themselves and the pub
lie from injurious goods made Ivy ire