140 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OP AGRICULTURE. 



butter is run from the vats to a big circular churn. There the milk and cream are 

 added, and the ingredients are churned until the whole is thoroughly mixed and 

 the new milk and cream have been formed into buttei . The fresh butter is a small 

 proportion of the whole, but it seems to leaven the lump, so that when it is treated 

 with butter coloring and salt it is turned out as an apparently prime product of 

 Orange County. The dauy inspector did not seem to regard this manufacturing of 

 new-style butter as objectionable. 



I am not prepared to say from personal experience what the physi- 

 ological effects of the constant use of borax may be, but the follow- 

 ing extract from the United States Dispensatory yfiW throw some 

 light on this question: 



THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION OF BORAX. 



In the case of six drams borax has no unpleasant effects except a temporary 

 sense of oppression in the stomach, or, at most, nausea and vomiting. Continued 

 large doses j^roduce the same consequence as the prolonged use of other salts of 

 sodium; liquefaction of the blood and scorbutic symptoms, and sometimes an impe- 

 tiginous eruption of the skin. 



For the accompanying photographic illustrations I aim greatly in- 

 debted to the late Dr. Bernard Persh, and to Mr. W. H. Walmsley, 

 of Philadelphia, Pa, , well known and expert microscopists, Fellows 

 of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, These 

 gentlemen gratuitously devoted time, material, and skill to the work 

 of photographing all the specimens of butter and fat crystals with 

 which I supplied them. For beauty of execution and truthfulness of 

 delineation these illustrations cannot be surpassed, and fully corrob- 

 orate all that I have heretofore written on this subject. 



Much interest in these investigations has been expressed the past 

 year by men of science, among whom are some of the foremost biolo- 

 gists, microscopists, and chemists of the universities and scientific 

 schools of this country. In some cases, on request, I have forwarded 

 them mounted specimens of crystals and photographs of same. The 

 representatives of several foreign powers, resident in this city, have 

 also expressed their personal interest in these investigations, and have 

 requested that copies of all bulletins issued by the Department relat- 

 ing to the microscopical investigation of butter and fats be forwarded 

 to their respective Governments. 



I have also made a number of examinations of foodstuffs which 

 have been brought to me personally or sent from a distance. 



Examination of fibers from India has also occupied a portion of 

 my time, but these latter investigations are incomplete, and not yet 

 ready for publication. 



■' ARRANGEMENT OF MICROSCOPE, ETC. 



For the purpose of microscopic examination of butter and fats the 

 instrument should be so constructed that Nicol's prisms, consisting 

 of a polarizer and analyzer, may be readily attached,* the polarizer 

 below the stage and the analyzer between the objective (one-half inch) 

 and lower end of the tube. By this arrangement a much larger field 

 is obtained than when the analyzer is placed in the upper end of the 

 tube, as is often the case. Having thus adapted the instrument to 

 the work, place a green selenite on the stage and focus the objective 

 to it, when an even green color will be seen. Next place a drop of 

 pure oil on the selenite, focus again, and a green color is again seen. 



* I always use a condenser over the polarizer. 



