84 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



ard, were pure. All of tlie 14 samples of rice were found to be im- 

 pure, while six samples of renovated butter were bought as pure 

 butter. The hand of the adulterator was very busy in connection 

 with the production of many of the articles enumerated in this 

 miscellaneous table. The purpose was always the same — to produce 

 an article that looked like the genuine and yet which contained 

 sufficient foreign ingredients to cheapen the product to such an ex- 

 tent as to permit its sale at a very moderate figure, while both the 

 manufacturer and the retailer made a much larger profit in propor- 

 tion than they obtained from the sale of the higher priced article. 

 As has been said already, the consumer is largely to blame for this 

 condition of affairs. If he were to set his mind upon obtaining the 

 best things, which are the cheapest after all, he would soon discour- 

 age the manufacturers who produce and sell fictitious products, and 

 the laws of the State in this regard would enforce themselves. It 

 will be a great day for the coming generations in Pennsylvania when 

 every householder will insist upon being served with the best, when 

 every grocer keeps the best and when no consumer shall be com- 

 pelled to purchase adulterated goods because he actually hasn't the 

 money to buy a better article. When that day comes the lifetime 

 of a generation will be greatly lengthened and the massacre of inno- 

 cent children will almost cease. 



DEALING IN ROTTEN EGGS. 



One of the most disagreeable revelations of the year came largely 

 through the investigations of Sj)ecial Agent H, P. Cassidy in the 

 City of Philadelphia, when it was discovered that a regular busi- 

 ness was carried on by certain dealers in malodorous eggs, which 

 were purchased at a nominal price and disposed of to bakers for 

 use in their business. This nefarious and disgusting industry was 

 fully exposed during the year by extended reference in successive 

 numbers of the Monthly Bulletin, and was practically broken up 

 through the energetic i>roceedings of Agent Cassidy and other mem- 

 bers of the division staff. In the appendix to this report will be 

 found a valuable paper on the subject of "Decayed or Partly De- 

 cayed and Decomposed Eggs," by Professor Charles H. La Wall, 

 chemist, and Mr. II. P. Cassidy, special agent, Avhich gives much in- 

 teresting and valuable information concerning eggs, methods of 

 preservation and various other matters of timely interest. The de- 

 tails of the revolting business of the dealers in rots and spots, as 

 the decayed eggs are called, were peculiarly offensive to the thou- 

 sands of good citizens who have been shocked to learn that many 

 of the bakers in whom they have hitherto had the fulleset confidence 

 have been using these decayed and jioisonous eggs in their busi- 

 ness. Such eggs were purchased by the pound at a nominal figure, 

 and the temptation to use them in the manufacture of cakes and 

 pastry was too strong to be resisted in many cases. The prompt 

 arrest of some of the more notorious olTenders among the dealers 

 in rotten eggs was followed by their submission to the mercy of the 

 court and by the very great shrinkage, of the business in this 

 State. It contains so many elements of danger and offense that 

 special efforts will be made by this Bureau to guard against its 

 revival. Reputable bakers do not i)atronize dealers in rotten eggs; 

 the trouble hitherto has been that some bakers who were supposed 

 to be beyond such conduct were unable to resist the temptation 



