718 FOODS AND FOOD ADULTERANTS. 



Press of work has prevented my isolating and positively identifying 

 this coloring matter or matters. 



Charles E. Cassal, in a paper on u Dyed sugars," read before the So- 

 ciety of Public Analysts in July, 1890,* states that certain sugars ex- 

 amined by him were dyed with tropaeolin dyes phosphineorchrysani- 

 line. As the reactions with acid and alkalis which he there describes 

 are identical with those which I obtained in the samples enumerated 

 above, it seems most probable that these samples also have been 

 treated with these dyestuffs, or that at least the sugars from which 

 they are derived received such treatment. 



Twenty-four of the samples were sold as "New Orleans molasses." 

 Of this number 16, or 66.7 per cent, were adulterated with glucose. 

 This shows the enormous extent to which mixing is practiced. One 

 barrel of genuine open-kettle molasses may be made to do duty as 5 or 

 6 barrels of best New Orleans sirup. 



ANALYSES BY CHEMICAL DIVISION, U. S. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICUL- 

 TURE. 



Low-grade bulk molasses and sirups comprised most of the samples 

 bought, but a few maple and other bottled sirups were procured. 

 Polarizations were made as indicated under sugars. Boneblack was of 

 necessity occasionally used, especially with invert solutions. A small 

 pinch of the moist black was placed in the point of a small filter and 

 about 50 per cent of the filtered solutions poured through in small por- 

 tions and then thrown away. The residue was then passed through. 

 This second filtrate was then used for polarization. Glucose was de- 

 termined by titratiou, using Violette's solution. 



To determine water a flat platinum dish, containing a little glass 

 stirring rod, was tared, a portion of the molasses weighed in, and 

 2 or 3 cc of alcohol added and rubbed up to a paste with it. About 

 a gram of acid-washed ignited kieselguhr was then weighed in from 

 a weighing bottle, and the whole put to dry in a steam-heated bath, 

 kept at a temperature of 100 for three hours, then into an air bath 

 heated to 105 till constant weight was attained. 



Ash was determined in another portion, using a porcelain crucible. 

 For the detection of heavy metals about 50 grams of molasses were 

 placed in a porcelain crucible, covered with sulphuric acid, and burned 

 to whiteness in a muffle. The ash was dissolved in hot hydrochloric 

 acid, the solution diluted, filtered, and hydrogen sulphide passed 

 through. Any precipitate formed was collected on a paper filter, which 

 was dried and burned in a porcelain crucible. The ash was fused with 

 potassic cyanide, the melt rubbed up in an agate mortar, and examined 

 with a lens for indications of metals. Such beads as were found were 

 extremely minute. 



The Analyst, Vol. 15, p. 141, 1890. 



