IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 207 



person. Such laws are based on sound principles, and 

 when properly brought to light, will be sustained by an 

 intelligent public sentiment. 



It was the dream of Napoleon to obtain food direct 

 from the elements and their ordinary compounds without 

 the aid and intervention of life force, but he did not resort 

 to mixing ground cigar boxes with cinnamon, or pulverized 

 cocoanut shells with pepper in order that each soldier 

 of his army might receive his full weight of rations. 



A greater army than Napoleon's striving for greater 

 conquests exists on the American continent to-day, viz.: 

 The American people, striving not only to establish good 

 government and individual protection, but also to extend 

 this good government and individual protection to the very 

 food we eat and drink. In order to do this it is necessary 

 that the government call to its aid all the light that sci- 

 ence is able to give; and as chemistry is the most funda- 

 mental and exact of the sciences, to begin with, the work 

 will be largely one of chemical investigation. 



Among the many subjects that may come before the 

 Academy of Sciences of the State of Iowa, none would be 

 of more interest or of greater value to the public than the 

 investigation first, of food products, and second, their 

 effects on the human system. 



The wholesale adulteration of food products, is a great 

 evil, injurious alike to the reputable dealer and to the public. 

 A drug is adulterated when it differs in strength, quality 

 of purity, from that laid down in the Pharmacopeia. 



A food is adulterated: First, if any substance has been 

 mixed with it so as to lower or depreciate or injuriously 

 affect its quality or purity; second, if any inferior substance 

 has been wholly or in part substituted for it; third, if any 

 valuable or necessary ingredients have been abstracted 

 from it; fourth, if it is an imitation, or sold under the 

 name of another article; fifth, if it consists wholly or in 

 part of deceased or decomposed animal or vegetable sub- 

 stance; sixth, if it is colored, coated, polished or powdered, 

 whereby damage or inferiority is concealed, or if by any 

 means it is made to appear better or of greater value than 



