No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 95 



else than plainly swindling the public. One of the fraudulent prac- 

 tices recommended by a firm was the use of a formula which would 

 enable the dairymen and others to double or greatly increase the 

 amount of butter by the use of certain chemicals as compared with 

 the normal percentage of butter fat in milk and cream. The recipe, 

 was extensiyely advertised until the attention of the government 

 authorities was called to the obvious fraud. The manufacture and 

 sale of such butter would undoubtedly conflict with the pure food 

 laws of this State. 



In another case, the advertiser offered for sale a preparation 

 which was to be used as a "cream thickener." While the article 

 in itself may not be positively poisonous in its nature, it will give 

 to cream and milk, when combined, the appearance of a rich, thick 

 cream. On the other hand, if the cream is subjected to the usual 

 test for fat contents, the purchaser will find that he has been im- 

 posed upon and that the so-called cream in most cases is a very 

 poor substitute, indeed. 



The use of coal-tar colors and other dyes and chemicals in milk 

 and cream to hide inferiority was common several years ago, but 

 the enforcement of the laws has resulted in the discontinuance of 

 the practice. Watered and skimmed milk was frequently colored, 

 so as to give the appearance of pure, rich milk, thus deceiving 

 the purchaser and possibly harming the consumer because of its 

 lack of nutritive elements. This was especially unfortunate when 

 such milk was used by infants and invalids whose main dietary 

 was supposed to consist of good, rich and wholesome milk. 



IMITATION DAIRY PRODUCTS IN PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS. 



The act of Assembly prohibiting the use of oleomargarine in chari 

 table and penal institutions in Pennsylvania, is being fully observed, 

 so far as is known to the officials of this office. A number of years 

 ago, numerous institutions of the kind indicated, used oleomarga- 

 rine instead of butter on account of its comparative cheapness. 

 Due notice upon several occasions was afforded to all concerned that 

 the practice was illegal, and a few prosecutions followed, which 

 action produced the desired observance of the statute. 



In Philadelphia and Pittsburg certain special agents made careful 

 examinations without discovering a single violation of the aforesaid 

 law. 



In connection with the subject, it is also proper to explain that 

 neither a superintendent or warden of such institution could obtain 

 a license permitting the use of uncolored oleomargarine, such as is 

 issued to the proprietors of hotels, restaurants and boarding houses 

 upon the payment of certain prescribed fees. Its use in boarding 

 the inmates of such institutions is absolutely prohibited. 



COLD-STORAGE EGGS. 



The sale of cold storage eggs as freshly laid stock, at the prices 

 of such, is an evil which has assumed large proportions and caused 

 much criticism. This subject was discussed in a previous report, 

 and so far as the Dairy and Food Commissioner is concerned, there 

 is, unfortunately, no statute under his charge which will assist in 

 correcting the abuse. 



