BOO TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



generally, but has no effect upon the venders, "who may adulterate 

 to any extent. As I have mentioned the microscope frequently, 

 I will make a few remarks upon the means which are afforded by 

 it for the detection of the adulterations of which I have been 

 speaking. Vegetable substances possess an intimate organization 

 or structui'e, visible only by the aid of the microscope, different 

 in the case of most of such substances. These differences of 

 organisation are so great and decisive, that by them most of these 

 substances may be distinguished one from the other, and this 

 when they are pulverized, and even scorched and roasted. All 

 that is required for this purpose is a knowledge of the structures 

 by which the different substances are characterized. Thus, the 

 structure of coffee is very different from that of chicory; of 

 wheat flour from that of oats, and s(\ on. A sample of vegetable 

 powder termed pheasant powder, used to feed pheasants, was 

 examined l^y the microscope, and no less than 1 1 distinct vege- 

 table matters were discovered, such as ll^iseed, aniseed, cayenne, 

 black and white mustard, wheat flour, the seed of cytisus, and 

 four other substances. This could never have been effected by 

 chemistry; the most accomplished chemist would hardly have 

 succeeded in detecting more than one of these substances, and 

 hence the great value of the microscope as a means of discovering 

 adulteration. Until recently the power of the microscope in this 

 particular application was nearly unknown. So recently as 1850, 

 the then Chancellor of the Exchequer was enabled to quote in 

 the House of Commons the opinions of three of the most distin- 

 guished chemists of the day, that had been employed by the 

 government specially to report upon the subject, " that neither by 

 chemistry nor by any other means was the admixture of chicory 

 with coffee to be detected." Until the microscope was brought to 

 bear upon the subject, no means existed whereby the great 

 majority of adulterations could be discovered, and the parties 

 practicing them little dreampt that an instrument existed capable 

 of bringing to light even these secret and guilty proceedings. 

 Adulteration was then practised in security, and with compara- 

 tive immunity; now this feeling of security has been destroyed, 

 and the adulterator knows that at any time he is liable to discovery. 

 Now, gentlemen, with evidence such as the above, I think it is 

 impossible to contend that the use of such a variety of injurious 

 and even poisonous substances is unattended with danger, and 

 that adulteration does not affect the public health. It may so 

 happen, and it doubtless does sometimes occur, that the same per- 



