14 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



The parties j^iiilty of selling Taris green illegally were found to 

 be, in most cases, either ignorant of a Paris green law or to have 

 received the goods previous to the time when the law became effec- 

 tive. 



The linseed oil work done during the year, in compliance with tlu' 

 provisions of the Linseed Oil Law, consisted in the collection and 

 analysis of lOi samples of linseed oil. Owing to the large amount 

 of laboratory ^^■ork along other lines, it was not deemed wise at the 

 lime to obtain a greater number of samples for analysis, and thereby 

 make it impossible to complete the work on hand. A few of the 

 oils examined were found adulterated with a foreign, volatile oil. 

 Prosecutions were ordei-ed in the most seiious cases. Part of these 

 were adjusted satisfactorily to the Department, and several cases 

 are still pending. 



This is a must important work, and more time should be devoted 

 to the inspection of linseed oil. During the coming year, we hope 

 to collect a larger number of samples and pay more attention to 

 this work. Tlie diief adulterants found in linseed oil were petro- 

 leum oil, cheap turpentine substitutes, rosin oils, cottonseed oils 

 and China wood oils. In cases of adulteration the adulterants used 

 were foiiiid to he, as a rule, easily ignited, volatile oils. It is evi- 

 dent that when these volatile oils are mixed with linseed oil it not 

 only cheapens the product, but makes it dangerous to use in paints, 

 inasmuch as ignition easily takes ])lnce and serious fires are liable 

 to be the result. In connection with the linseed oil work, there has 

 been a demand for a ])aint law. In some states where such a law 

 exists it has been found that this commoflity was being sold with 

 a composition difTerent from the supposed standard of the same. 

 I'ennsylvania should protect the users of paint, and make it possible 

 to obtain a pure article rather than that which, without this protec- 

 tion, is Ijjible to b(> found for sale on the markets of the State. 

 The importance of a law regulating the manufacture, mixing and sale 

 of paints is commended to the consideration of the General Assem- 

 bly of the Commonwealth. 



The miscellaneous work of the Bureau of Chemistry during the 

 year, as already stated, consisted of the analysis of various materials 

 for other Divisions of the Department and for other Departments 

 in the Stsite government. • 



The kind of materials examined were milk, butter, ice-creams, 

 cylinder oils, foods suspected of being poisoned from which poultry 

 or stock have died, damaged cereals, disinfectants and many otluM- 

 materials sent in by the various Departments. This work was done 

 as a matter of courtesy to the other Departments, to assist in their 

 woik in retiu'n for courtesies received. 



A nnndxM' of requests for information concerning feeds were re- 

 ceived by the Bureau, samples of which were forwarded. Of these 

 samples it was not necessary to make a complete analysis, but only 

 to spend a few moments with the microsco])e to delect any foreign 

 snlist,';"'> atM.cd. It wjis d"emed wise, for the ,<n)od of the work, to 

 grant these favors without compensation, inasmuch as there were 

 only a few in number. If such requests continue to come in, it may 

 become neccssarv to emjdoy additional syiecial help for this service. 

 If a clause, such as relates to sami)lcs of feeds sent to the Depart- 

 ment by manufacturers and consumers of the same, should be in- 



