SPICES AND CONDIMENTS. 



193 



List of equivalent percentage of reducing sugars in ash free organic substance of peppers and 



adulterants. 



Lenz's method of i averting was this : 3 to 4 grams of the substance to 

 be examined was treated for three to four hours in a flask with 250 c.c. 

 of water, being repeatedly shaken. It was then filtered off, washed 

 with water, and the moist powder washed back into the flask, and to 

 200 c.c. of water 25 c.c. of 25 per cent, hydrochloric acid added. The 

 flask was provided with a cork and tube one meter long and placed in 

 a bath of boiling water and kept there three hours, with shaking. It is 

 then made upon cooling to SODc.c., after careful neutralization with 

 soda. This liquid was then titrated with Fehliug solution. When 

 palm-cake was present it was found necessary to add a little zinc chlo- 

 ride to clear the solution. Most of the surrogates for pepper used in 

 Germany Lenz found to be free from starch, so that this method would 

 seem to be of wide applicability. He remarks, however, that other sub- 

 stances besides starch may be inverted, and for this reason it is neces- 

 sary to adhere closely to one method of working. We shall from our 

 own experience and that of others learn more in regard to the capa- 

 bilities and usefulness of this method. 

 22823 Bull. 13, pt. 2 5 





