204 



FOODS AND FOOD ADULTERANTS. 



of pure whole peppers, direct from importers, and of the commercial 

 ground article, have been collected. The results also reveal the extent 

 and nature of the adulteration practiced in this part of the country. 

 The specimens were of the origin described below. 



Sources of specimens of pepper. 

 WHOLE PEPPERS. 



MECHANICAL AND MICROSCOPICAL EXAMINATION. 



The weight of the whole peppers and the amount of dirt present, as 

 they are imported, have been given already. In the ground condition 

 they of course displayed the normal structure of the berry, as has 

 been already described. No further reference is necessary, therefore, 

 under this head. In the ground specimens the following peculiarities 

 were noted . 



4515. Sifting reveals the presence of pepper stems which should not 

 be present, showing that the pepper was ground without cleaning and 

 an undue proportion of husky matter, unbleached by nitric acid and 

 chlorate. 



4523. This specimen is very coarsely ground, a large proportion of 

 husk remaining on the 40-mesh sieve, among which evidence of the 

 presence of maize could be distinguished, and that P. D. in some form 

 must be present. 



4528. Sifting separated light chaffy and fibrous mattrr. The micro- 

 scope detected yellow corn and its hulls. 



4533. This proved of very bad quality, the siftings consisting of bran, 

 roasted shells or charcoal, and corn. The microscope was confirmatory, 

 and the presence of the roasted shells prevented bleaching with 

 Schulze's reagent. This is evidently a P. I), pepper of the worst sort. 



