68 KANSAS ACXDEMY OF SCIENCE. 



gists and twenty- eight from grocers. An inspection of the table 

 brings out the following facts : 



First. That all of the druggists were selling pure cream of tartar. 



Second. That thirteen of the twenty-eight grocers were selling a 

 substitute for cream of tartar, at a j)rice equaling that asked for the 

 pure article. Only four of these inferior samples contained any cream 

 of tartar whatever, and this was more than likely accidental, since it 

 existed in very small quantities. 



Third. That seven of the fifteen grocers supplying pure cream of 

 tartar were selling it at a price which was practically less than cost. 



Fourth. That the adulteration, or more accurately speaking the 

 substitution, was in every case calcium acid phosphate with its ac- 

 companying impurities, which in three of the samples wms almost 

 entirely impurity, -calcium sulphate. 



The calcium acid phosphate used for replacing the more expensive 

 cream of tartar in leavening mixtures is a superior grade of super- 

 phosphate, a highly valued fertilizer, mixed with corn-starch. The 

 better grades are pure white, and consist of the i)hosphates of calcium 

 with about fifty per cent, of corn-starch and calcium sulphate, together 

 with small quantities of iron and aluminum salts. As this complex 

 mixture was the only impurity found, it is evident that any of these 

 spurious samples would be condemned at once by their solubility, 

 since a good sample of cream of tartar will be readily soluble in about 

 fifty parts of hot water. 



When such a simple test as this will serve to detect an adulteration, 

 it does not seem that these dealers can be overly anxious to supply a 

 pure article, and it is not necessary to look far for the motive for this 

 high percentage of adulteration, since a much higher grade of this 

 calcium acid phosphate than found in any of these samples masquer- 

 ading under the guise of cream of tartar can be purchased for about 

 one-fourth the price of pure cream of tartar. The public will, in 

 many instances, be greatly imposed upon should it attempt an indis- 

 criminate purchase of this article, and it is time that the attention of 

 the wholesale as well as the retail grocers be called to paragraphs 2323 

 and 2327 of the Kansas statutes : 



Paragraph 2323. Adulteration of Food and Drugs. No person shall 

 within this state manufacture for sale, offer for sale, or sell, any drug or article 

 of food which is adulterated within the meaning of this act. 



Paragraph 2327. Penalty. . . . Whoever violates any of the provisions 

 of this act shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction shall be fined 

 not exceeding $100 nor less than $25, or imprisonment not exceeding 100 days nor 

 leas than 30 days, or both. 



