REPORT OF THE CHEMIST. 



295 



reference to "appeal cases." The remaining 10 were re]wrted adulterated with 

 wliejit flour and colored earth, in one case to the extent of 50 per cent. The other 

 10 samples were reported unadulterate<l, save 1, which was doubtful, it apparently- 

 having,- been artificially dressed with a fixed oil. 



Sixty samples of gi'ound pepper, black and white, were examined, of which 31 are 

 reported as unadulterated, 1 doubtful, and 28 all more or less adulterated, the gen- 

 erality of them to the extent of from 10 to 20 per cent., but the more flagrant cases 

 from 30 up to even 75 per cent, in one case. The adulterant is chiefly farinaceous 

 matter, also mustard husk, pepper hulls, clay, sand, and, not the least conspicuous, 

 ground cocoanut shells — doubtless an innocent admixtui-e, so far as health is con- 

 cerned, but decidedly not a material of a character to improve the flavor or value 

 of the pepper as a condiment. 



As stated, these samples of spices were all obtained from either the actual pro- 

 ducer or wholesale distributer, and the results prove that, whether or not the retail 

 vender still further "improves" his spices, &c., before retailing them, his demand 

 for a cheap adulterated article is amply provided for by the manufacturing dealer. 



For the most part the producers of these sophisticated goods expressed themselves 

 anxious for the enforcement of the law for their suppression, but objected to the re- 

 quirements of the law that if sold they should be distinctly labeled as impure. Some, 

 on the other hand, contended that the public was benefited by a slight admixture; 

 that a really better article could be supplied at a lower price if the finest and fresh- 

 est spices were ground with an admixture of inert matter than a thoroughly pure 

 article but ground from old or perished spices — a specious contention, utterly un- 

 tenable hi the true interests of the public. 



But have not the producers of these sophistications some justification? Is not the 

 supply of a demand wliicli undoubtedly has existed a justifiable enterprise, what- 

 ever that demand may be, so long as it is within the law? Ignorance does un- 

 doubtedly demand cheapness, and a demand thus ignorantly made is only too surely 

 supplied , and hence the need for costly legislation to protect an ignorant and 

 thoughtless pubhc against itself, for it does demand the very goods which the ana- 

 lyst must condemn and the vender be prosecuted and fined for selling; whereas the 

 public's reckless ignorance is the chief cause, and should suffer some measure of the 

 penalty. It is time that, tlirough the operation of this act, such ignorance should be 

 cleared away and the public be enlightened and awakened to its own trae interests. 



These remarks apply equally well to imich. of the spice sold in the 

 United States. Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Michigan 

 alone have laws of any value in regard to the adulteration of food, 

 and it is easy to see in what condition the spices and condiments sold 

 in other parts of the country must be. In Massachusetts, where 

 investigations under the law have been going on since 1882, it has 

 been shown, as in other localities, that the adulterations of spices are 

 numerous but harmless. Dr. Sharpless, in his report of 1882 upon 

 this subject, remarks that he agrees with the opinion expressed by 

 Dr. Leeds, of New Jersey, in his report of 1880, to the New Jersey 

 State Board of Health, that there has been much sensational writing 

 upon the subject. This is perhaps the case with some few writers of 

 that stamp, but it can have done no harm, for it has not produced 

 sufficient effect upon the public to create a demand for any purer 

 spices, as appears from the figures of Dr. E. S. Wood in 1884, who 

 reports in regard to the samples he examined as analyst of foods for 

 Massachusetts : 



Articles. 



Black pepper 

 White pepper 

 Red pepper . . 



Mustard 



Ground cloves 



Cassia 



Pimento 



Ginger 



Genuine. 



Adulter- 

 ated. 



Adulter- 

 ated. 



Per cent. 

 68.75 

 70.46 



01.84 

 100.00 

 100.00 



