•2-I5-2 Journal of Applied Microscopy 



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I Journal of 



Applied Microscopy 



and 



Laboratory Methods 



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Edited by L. B. ELLIOTT. 



Ever since the Journal has been pubUshed, but more particularly during the 

 past year, we have had inquiries for practical methods for the microscopical ex- 

 amination of adulterated foods and other commercial products, and for methods 

 of determining, by microscopical examination, the composition of commercial 

 products, such, for example, as paper, textile substances, paints, etc. We have 

 communicated with many of the directors of laboratories in which microscopical 

 work is done in the leading institutions of our country, and have, almost without 

 exception, found that not only was there no attention paid to such subjects in 

 these laboratories, but the laboratories could furnish no information as to where 

 such work was being done, in fact, were entirely out of touch of the practical 

 application of microscopical work in the industries. While we do not wish at 

 this time to question the good which is being done in the biological laboratories 

 of our country in microscropical investigations of biological subjects, we do 

 think it is time that a public sentiment should be created which will cause the 

 directors of our laboratories to give at least some attention to the practical appli- 

 cation of the microscope in industrial work. Papers are made from an infinite 

 variety of substances, and the cost of production and their commercial value 

 depend upon the materials of which they are composed to a greater extent than 

 upon the labor consumed. This fact offers a fertile means for the manufacturer 

 and dealer to obtain a higher price for a low grade article, and the only protec- 

 tion that the consumer has is in knowing just what the composition of the paper is. 



The laundry business of our country is of enormous extent. Starch is one 

 of the large elements of expense in the conduct of a laundry. Corn starch and 

 wheat starch are sold for laundry purposes. Wheat starch is the better of the 

 two, and is very much higher in price. A mixture of a certain percentage of 

 corn with wheat starch gives a starch which is absolutely undetectable 

 from pure wheat starch, as far as its use in the laundry is concerned, and this 

 mixture is very largely used. The relative quantity of corn and wheat starch 

 should determine the price, but here again the consumer must rely entirely upon 

 the statement of the seller, unless he is provided with a microscope, and the 

 knowledge by which he can determine the relative proportions for himself. Other 

 starches besides corn starch are used in adulterating laundry starches, and their 

 presence and amount can only be detected in this way. There are hundreds of 

 other uses for the microscope in the industries. 



We should like to be contradicted in our statements, and to have the contra- 

 dictions substantiated by the placing before our readers of some of the methods 

 which have been evolved in the various laboratories of the country for these 

 purposes. 



