284 TRANSACTIONS OP THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



high degree. The taste, however, is soon acquired, and as it has 

 some strengthening and tonic properties, it is probably not 

 injurious if taken moderately, but by prolonged and frequent 

 use, it produces heart-burns, cramps in the stomach, loss of appe- 

 tite, acidity in the mouth, weakness of the limbs, tremblings, 

 sleeplessness, and a drunken cloudiness of the senses. 



An admixture of chickory in coffee can be detected by putting 

 it in cold water— it is soluble, and imparts its color to the water 

 in proportion to its quantity. The coffee is insoluble in cold 

 water, and of course gives it no color. Johnson tells us, in his 

 Chemistry of Common Life, another reason why the use of 

 chickory should be avoided by those who can afford to buy pure 

 coffee, is found in the fact that pure chickory is as difficult to be 

 met with in the market as unadulterated coffee. Venetian red is 

 very commonly employed to impart to the chickory a true coffee 

 color; and it is curious to observe how the practice of adultera- 

 tion extends itself from trade to trade. The coffee dealer adul- 

 terates his coffee, with chickory, to increase his profits ; the 

 chickory maker adulterates his chickory with Venitian red, to 

 please the eye of the coffee dealer ; and, lastly, the Venitian red 

 manufacturer grinds up his colors with brick dust, that by greater 

 cheapness, and the variety of shades he offers, he may secure the 

 patronage of the trade in chickory. 



In conclusion, we ask every housewife to help us in our efforts 

 to break up this nefarious trade. Buy no more coffee ready 

 ground. The pure article, at its full price, i^ cheaper than any 

 other mixtures, no matter how low the price asked. 



In buying these ground mixtures, you not only cheat your- 

 selves, but you put money into the pockets of dishonest dealers, 

 that you suppose goes towards paying the just and necessary tax 

 now required by our governtment to save itself from threatened 

 destruction. 



If you cannot afford the genuine article, ro'-L('. juur own rye or 

 barley, or drink milk or water, but give no more money for these 

 fraudulent mixtures. 



Mr. Lawton moved the acceptance of the report, and in doing 

 so, said he was gratified to see that the committee had done a 

 great service to the housekeeper in bringing to their notice the 

 immense frauds that were made in the articles of food. 



He was opposed to all substitutes being sold as the genuine 



