REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



293 



reports, and a collation of the results of the investigations of the 

 several public analysists is of interest. In 1878, when the reports 

 first became available to us for reference, the summary of the spices 

 analyzed showed: 



Articles. 



AJlspice . . . 

 Cassia 



Cloves 



Cinnamon. 

 Giufrer — 

 Musturd . . 

 Fepper — 



P.ct. 



92.5 

 50. iJ 

 83.3 

 66.6 

 ol.5 

 100.0 

 70.0 



This enormous amount of adulteration, amounting to nearly a 

 universal custom, was followed in 1879 by a similar report : 



In 1880 there were reported, as the results of the public analysts' 

 work: 



There is a very slight improvement apparent, but it must be remem- 

 bered that in examinations of this description the specimens selected 

 are always of a suspicious nature, those which are already known to 

 be pure being omitted, so that year by year the list of brands which 

 are excluded from examination increases. 



