STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 89 



off on them a cheap imitation article, or a compound of drugs, 

 injurious or even poisonous ! 



Perhaps you think I am exaggerating the amount of adulter- 

 ation and its injurious results. Let us see what others say. 



First, I quote an extract from a letter in the Chicago Tribune, 

 dated April 3rd, 1889: 



"A bill is now pending in the Legislature of this State to pre- 

 vent poisonous adulteration or foul mixtures of the vinegars 

 placed on the market of this State. These spurious and vile im- 

 itations are composed of water, coloring material, with various 

 organic and fermentative substances, rendered sour by the addi- 

 tion of sulphuric acid. This acid is a poison to the stomach, 

 corroding its coats, creating an irritation, and a confirmed dys- 

 peptic is the result. In view of these facts why are our legisla- 

 tors indifferent and ignore the bill? Can it be that they are 

 unfamiliar with the nature and action of these slow and injurious 

 poisons? Or can it be that the adulterators' money is the vile 

 bane to human health and hapiness? ' 



Corroborative of these assertions is an extract from the Mil- 

 waukee letter to the Chicago Daily News of Nov. 14, 1889: "It 

 was asserted that impure and poisonous vinegars were being 

 made in Milwaukee, and that the manufacture was to be stopped. 

 Nothing has been done, and the presumption is that poisonous 

 vinegars are being manufactured still and the manufacturers are 

 safe from prosecution. Local chemists here recently made a 

 test analysis of four samples of vinegar, and an extract from 

 their report is as follows: 'Out of four samples of vinegar re- 

 cently purchased in Milwaukee, and submitted to us for exami- 

 nation, one was found to approach somewhat the genuine article, 

 not, however, being as represented, pure Cider Vinegar. Three 

 were found to be manufactured from sulphuric acid and water, 

 one being colored to resemble cider vinegar. These were all 

 represented to be the pure article; and, in one case, the pur- 

 chaser was informed that it was unadulterated and an exception- 

 ally pure vinegar. This was one which was made from sulphuric 

 acid, commonly known as oil of vitrol, a highly corrosive poison, 

 and contains many impurities, among them arsenic and lead. 

 Even when highly diluted this acid destroys tissue, and when 

 taken internally it corrodes and destroys the stomach and the 

 mucous surfaces of the internal organs. It may require many 

 months to accomplish this, but it acts surely, even if slowly. 

 Any arsenic which may be contained in the acid is of course taken 

 into the system. Thus we see the danger arising from using 

 these compounds sold as vinegar.' " 



A prominent horticulturist in an adjoining State, whom all of 

 you know by reputation, and most of you personally, a man care- 

 ful in his statements and a close investigator, writes me : "I have 

 found only one barrel, not made in this county, that was Cider 



