25 



priotor of a vineyard lias become a distiller and compouiider. He has acquired the 

 art of imitating any special flavor or vintage of brandy that may be called for. Po- 

 tato spirits and beet alcohols, the most deleterious and obnoxious of all the varieties 

 of spirits, are sent from Germany into Franco in vast quantities. They are flavored, 

 colored, and branded or labeled to meet the wishes of American connoisseurs. The 

 mere fact of coming out of bond, or ' straight through the custom-house/ is generally 

 accepted here as sufficient evidence that they are pure and genuine. It is rather un- 

 fortunate that physicans themselves frequently strengthen this hallucination in favor 

 of imported spirits by giving the most stringent orders to their patients to procure 

 genuine French cognac, even though it may command tenfold the price of an abso- 

 lutely pure spirit of domestic production. This imperative command becomes a cruel 

 injustice in the case of poor patients. Under the best of circumstances, what is there 

 to be gained by the use of French brandy in preference to pure domestic spirit ?" 



And, it may be added to this statement, if alcoholic stimulants are to be prescribed 

 by the physician, let him first ascertain the source of the sample and acquaint him- 

 self with the quality, origin, and ingredients. 



Of 15 samples of whisky, 3 only were equal to the requirements of 

 the pharmacopoeia. 



OPIUM AND OTHER DRUGS. 



Of 42 samples examined only 8 were standard ; as previously stated, 

 other drugs showed 55.66 per cent, of debased and adulterated arti- 

 cles. 



OHIO REPORT. 



The following extracts taken from the report of the dairy and food 

 commission of Ohio for 1887, speak for themselves and are submitted 

 without comment. 



MAPLE SIRUP. 



Two fraudulent samples analyzed. One contained 62 per cent, of maple 

 sirup and 28 per cent, of glucose ; the other, 25 per cent, maple and 75 

 per cent, of glucose sirup. One of the parties pleaded guilty and paid 

 $500 fine. The other swore the goods were sold before the law was 

 enacted, and was acquitted. 



VINEGAR. 



Commissioner Hurst, speaking of this article, says: 



The vile and hurtful compound manufactured from drugs and acids should be for- 

 bidden a place in the trade, whether made within the State or without. And the 

 "low wine" vinegars should be branded with their true name, and the coloring of 

 such vinegar to simulate cider vinegar should be positively prohibited. Such an 

 amended law would add $100,000 per year to the value of the Ohio apple crop and 

 greatly promote the public health. 



BAKING POWDERS. 



Thirty samples were examined. The commissioner evidently tried to 

 be impartial, as lie issued a circular to the trade before purchasing the 

 samples. His classification of the powders were as follows: First 



