Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-13
Fifty Years Ago
In The Star ,

1.-The matter of authorizations in food. "
says The Star of January 10, 1879, lis
Food Adulteration terest We are
n;solosures gradually learning
that. things pro-
Tossing to be eatable are not what they
seem in ninety-nine cases out of a
hundred. But for all that the
presentation of the case made re-
Gently before the American Social
Science Association at Boston is suf1-
GENTLY startling. 1t is asserted that
several mills in New England and prob
ably many elsewhere are now engaged
in grinding white stone into a fine
powder, graded SO as to adulterate soda,
sugar and flour, and sold at half cent
per pound. Flour is also adulterated
with plaster of paris, bone dust, sand,
clay. chalk and other articles. It Is
suggested that large quantities of dam
aged and unwholesoine grain are ground
in with flour to make the graham bread
in which dyspeptics place confidence.
Certainly hundreds and probably thou
sands of barrels of terra alba or white
earth, which produces kidney complaints
and various diseases of the stomach
when eaten, are sold In our, cities every
year to be mixed with sugars in con-
fectionery and for use in cream OF tartar
and other white substances.
1.-THE proportion Of this adulteration
ranges from 80 to IS per cent. The
coloring matter of confectionery fire.
quently contains lead. mercury, arsenic
and copper. Even the Seasonings do not
escape. CAYENNE pepper is adulterated
with red lead. mustard with chromate
of lead, curry powder with red lead, and
vinegar with sulphuric acid arsenic and
corrosive sublimate. The cheerful state
ment is made that probably half the
vinegar now sold in our cities is rank
poison. Many of the flavoring oils,
sirups, jellieS and preserved fruit are
open to the same objection. The out
look is not found to be more encouraging
when what we drink is considered. The
authorizations of tea are too numel Gus
to mention. Coffee is not only aoul-
terated. but patent has been taken out
for molding chicory into the form OF
coffee berries. and it has been charged
that clay also is nodded and favored with
essence to represent coffee. Cocoa and
chocolate are adulterated with various
mineral substances. Water is SAID 10
be the least dangerous adulteratlon Oh
milk. Recipes for mixture by means
of which artificial milk Is made are
sold. and it is asserted that thousands
of gallons of so-called milk have been
sold in the single city Of New York
which do not contain one drop OF the
genuine article.
"A somewhat similar condition OF
affairs is shown to exist in regard to
nearly everything else that we eat or
drink, but enough has, perhaps, been
given for all practical purposes. The
condition of the phenomenal individuals
in different parts of the country who
are reported to live, speaking generally,
without eating, is not popularity con-
sidered an enviabie one, but the Amer
lean Social Science Association Is
doubtless inclined to believe that such a
life is not without its advantages"
Washingtons water supply and sewer
problems were matters of lively discus
sion at this time SO
Water Supply years ago, and in sup
and Sewers port of a letter printed
anu 0e"oS' i'll The Star of January
IL, 1879. signed by T. S. Verdi, NJ. D.
the following editorial appears:
1.-THE suggestions advanced in the
communication elsewhere in this issue
upon our water supply seem to have
weight. It is urged that instead OF
adopting a costly system of water
meters. at an expense Of quarter of a
million of dollars. for the purpose of
reducing the consumption OF water. 1t
will be better to spend that sum or more
in increasing the water supply. The
Importance to the health of a city in
having the sewers cleansed by an ample
flow OF water through them is set forth
with force, and the fact that We have
directly at our doors the immense
volume of water furnished by great
river shows that II will be inexcusahle,
in sanitary point Of view alone, not
to utilize this great cleansing agency, :