SOME ADULTERANTS OP FOODS AND DRUGS. 



Following is a list of some foods and drugs, arranged alphabetically, 

 the ordinary sophistications of each article being given under the 

 appropriate head : 



Absinthe. Undistilled liquors (from beet). Damaged and inferior 

 material, to which is added aromatic resins, benzoins, guaiacum, etc. 



Alcohol. Methyl alcohol made from wood is largely used in adultera- 

 tions. 



Alcoholic liquors. Fusil oil, tannin, logwood, water, coloring mat- 

 ter, burnt sugar. 



Kirscliwasser (German cherry brandy) is imitated by a compound of 

 apricot and cherry seed, peach leaves dried, myrrh, and alcohol. 



Gin (rye whisky and barley), potatoes and barley, alum, spirits of 

 turpentine, sugar, and water. 



Ales, English and American. Many people prefer English ale. Now, 

 whether this is because of its superiority or because it is "English" is 

 a question that the writer does not pretend to decide. It is a fact that 

 the imported article costs more, and as some people grade what they 

 buy by the price, probably the preference is due to the increased cost. 



If this be so, and no one can dispute it, the purchaser of the imported 

 and higher priced article, is entitled to get the genuine article, and 

 when imported ales are mixed with the American product and sold as 

 genuine, the fact of such a sale, while neither improving nor lowering 

 the quality of the ale, doubtless lowers the standard of honesty, and is 

 without doubt a fraud, and commercially an adulteration. The fact 

 that over 30 qualities of ale are sold in England should lead the pur- 

 chaser to inquire which quality he purchases when he buys the " real 

 article w on this side of the water. An interesting notice on this subject 

 in the New York Analyst points out these and other facts, to wit, that 

 the bottler often fails to allow ale to ripen in the casks before confining 

 it in bottles, and lastly the writer points out that the clearest and most 

 transparent ale is not always the most desirable. In England people 

 do not drink as cold drinks as we do, and an English beer brewed to 

 use with their temperature of consumption would grow cloudy when 

 put in the American ice box. 



Ammonia. When used in bread or cake to whiten and lighten flour 

 is injurious and should be prevented. 



Baking powders. Alum for cream of tartar, starch in undue quan- 

 tities, coarse hominy. Alum is often used te liberate carbonic acid, 

 although not an acid salt. Its use in so-called cream of tartar baking 

 50 



