The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1912-10-05
Government Chemist in Annual
Report Points Out Present
Discrepancies
AOuLTERAT'oNs ARE COMMON
Copper Poisoning is Traced to
Oyster Supply SD &

-------~ .
London. Oct. 5.--An efficient pure
food law is sadly needed in Great
Britain, according To the indications of
the government chemist in his annual
report on the work of his laboratory
Cider is a favorite beverage in Eng
land for those who prefer soft drinks
and 1t is stated that the great majority
Of so-called nOn-alcoholic elders are
entirely free from fermented apple
Juice and are simply solutions of su-
gar which have been aerated, favored
and colored. Beverages Of this class
tire frequently prepared from liquids
or essences supplied by manufacturers,
who also furnish a recipe fer making
cider from them. In one brand exam
ined a liquid supplied by n continental
firm as concentrated apple juice"
was found TO be a strong solution of
sugar Favored with fruit essences, col
ored with aniline dye and quite free
from apple juice. One of the samples
of butter marked Canadian Produce
contained 27.5 per cent of water, the
legal limit being sixteen per cent.
Samples of oysters sent from the
west of England on suspicion that they
had caused copper poisoning showed
that all of the oysters contained both
copper and zinc. The report says that
the presence of zinc in oysters does
not appear to have been noticed pre-
viously and in those examined there
was considerably more zinc than cop
per. The heaviest oysters contained
Nthe most copper and zinc, leading the
chemist to conclude that the foreign
substances had no deleterious effect
On the growth Of the oysters.
The report also uncovers the fact
that dealers improve the weight of ten
hy placing sand in it and 1t shows
that many other food products are
hardly what their consumers expect
them to be.
Cotton Crop Along Nile.
The cultivation and handling OF cot
ton on the banks of the Nile are to be
studied by delegation of 100 experts
representing twelve nations. They are
going to Egypt shortly under the aus
pices of the International Federation of
Master Cotton Spinners and will make
a thorough inspection of the various
ginning factories, seed crushing fac
tories and plantations in the country.
In addition to visiting the expert
mental and other plantations. the dele
gates viii hold conferences with the
Department of Agriculture at Alexan-
dria, the Khedivial Agricultural Socie-
" and the Alexandria Produce Asso-
citation.
The latest reports received hero on
the cotton crop are of a very favorable
nature and an estimate of its extent
places 1t at eight million cantars of
one hundred pounds each, which is a
record crop for Egypt.
Review Great Army.
Colonel Hughes. Canadian Minister
Of Militia, ard the officers acccmpa-
nying him, had a busy time viewing
the maneuvers of two great armies
within the space of two weeks. Colonel
Hughes and his staff reached Tours.
France, on September IL. and next day
they witnessed the clash of two OPP
posing armies of 10000 men. They
were present at two severe battles
and several minor engagements. In
addition TO observing the work in the
field they spent much time In exam
ining the transport trains and the
camp and field equipment.
they returned to England to wit
ness the launching of the battleship
"Audacious' and then attended the
British army maneuvers at Cam
bridge.
On Daring Voyage.
A daring attempt to make q voyage
round the world in "a rs foot sailing
boat has just been started from Yoko-
hama by Captain J. G. Ross. of Vic
toria X. c.. and two young English
men. Sufficient food and water has
been taken on board to last the three
men until they reach the Fiji Islands.
the first port Of call. From the islands
they will proceed to Australia and
thence to the coast of Southern Asia.
They will then sail along the coast
to the Mediterranean and up the
Spanish and French coasts to the
south Of England.
Leaving England. they will steer o
southerly course across the Atlantic
for Pan1ma. where they expect to be
one OF the first boats passing through
the completed canal. Leaving the canal
they will cruise up the west coast of
North America to Victoria. Il. c.. from
which port they will commence the