ANALYSIS AND ADULTERATIONS OF COFFEE. 87 



would not be long before they acknowledged the infinite 

 superiority of the genuine beverage even as a matter of taste." 



If chiccory were an improvement when mixed with coffee, it 

 ought to be good by itself ; but any one who has tasted the bit- 

 ter, muddy, and nauseating infusion of this root is aware that 

 only when mixed and partially disguised with coffee can it be 

 drunk at all ; between the two articles there is no analogy what- 

 ever ; besides, chiccory has properties of its own which are de- 

 cidedly injurious ; when taken only in moderate quantities 

 chiccory is not at first injurious to health, but by its prolonged 

 and frequent use it produces heartburn, cramps, loss of appe- 

 tite, acidity in the mouth, and cloudiness of the senses. It is 

 the opinion of the eminent oculist, Professor Beer, of Yienna, 

 that the continual use of chiccory seriously affects the nervous 

 system, and gives rise to blindness, without any visible defect 

 in the eyes except an immovable pupil. 



The ground coffee sold by the grocers is to a great extent 

 adulterated. The principal substances used for this purpose 

 are roasted chiccory and roasted beans, peas, and corn. This 

 fraud may readily be detected as follows : " A spoonful of 

 pure coffee, placed gently on the surface of a glass of cold 

 water, will float for some time, and scarcely color the liquid ; 

 if it contains chiccory, it will rapidly absorb the water, and, 

 sinking to the bottom of the glass, communicate a deep 

 reddish-brown tint as it falls. Another method of applying 

 this test is by expertly shaking a spoonful of the suspected 

 coffee with a wine-glassful of cold water, and then placing the 

 glass upon the table. If it is pure it will rise to the surface, 

 and scarcely color the liquid ; but if chiccory is present it will 

 sink to the bottom, and the water will be tinged of a deep red 

 as before. Roasted corn, beans, etc., may be detected by the 

 cold decoction striking a blue color with tincture of iodine. 

 Pure coffee is merely deepened a little in color by this sub- 



