APPENDIX D LXXV 
And with regard to so-called food preservatives, there is still a large 
debatable ground. Honest and well informed men are found on both 
sides of the question. But all are agreed in this; that the purchaser has 
a right to know whether or not a preservative has been used in the 
preparation of the article he buys. For the rest, we must wait the re- 
sults of investigation; profiting by every advance of knowledge. 
From all these considerations it appears that the most important 
improvement in food inspection which the near future will see, is not 
so much any changes in or additions to the present laws, as a wide 
diffusion of knowledge regarding food; with the object of enabling the 
public to gain an intelligent conception of the meaning and operation 
of Food Laws. 
The most important and noteworthy features inthe actual working 
of Food legislation in Canada since 1875, may be briefly indicated as 
follows:—The first report on Adulteration was issued in 1876, and 
showed that 180 samples had been analyzed during the year of which 
93 ( — 51 per cent.) were found to be adulterated. It is interesting to 
note that every sample of cloves, cinnamon, ginger and mustard was 
found adulterated; while this was the case with 90 per cent. of the 
samples of pepper and coffee. Milk showed 68 per cent. of adul- 
teration. 
In his second report (1877) the Commissioner of Inland Revenue 
gives particulars of 488 samples analyzed, of which 247 (50.6 per cent.) 
were found to be adulterated; and adds:—‘“The Act has now been in 
force during a period sufficient to afford a fair test of its value, and it is 
not too much to say that the reports made to the Department show con- 
clusively that it affords the means of exposing dishonesty in traders and 
of protecting the consumer against the adulterations of his food, which 
if not deleterious have undoubtedly the effect of imposing on him worth- 
less articles in lieu of the genuine article for which he pays his money. 
This being the case, I submit that the time has arrived for bringing the 
whole of the Dominion under the operation of the law.” 
In 1883 the Commissioner referring to preparation of Amendments 
to the Act, says:—“ Three specific aims have been kept in view. 
ist.—To distinguish between merely fraudulent, and dangerous 
adulteration. 
2nd.—In defining Adulteration, to lay down general principles of 
interpretation, equally applicable to all articles subject to the operation 
of the Act. 
3rd.—To invite local co-operation in the administration of the Act.” 
In 1886, the following important statement occurs in the Com- 
missioner’s report :—“ It will be seen that 893 samples were analyzed, at 
a cost of $3.00 to $8.00 per sample, which prove to be genuine. It is 
