50 COCOA AND CHOCOLATE. 



" From this analysis it is apparent that 

 the main constituent of the ash is phos- 

 phate of potash, and that there is almost 

 total absence of carbonates. The ash of 

 the shell being, as has been said, highly 

 charged with carbonates, it follows that, 

 in obtaining the ash of the entire seed, we 

 cause the phosphates of the nib to decom- 

 pose the carbonates of the shell, and so ob- 

 tain an ash devoid of carbonates. 



u The large proportion of phosphate of 

 potash in cocoa (certainly not far from one 

 per cent, in the seed of good quality) 

 is worthy the attention of the physician, 

 and no doubt gives an especial value to a 

 dietary consisting largely of cocoa. It will 

 further be observed that the fine kinds of 

 cocoa-seeds are rich in phosphate of pot- 

 ash. .... 



"Mixtures of cocoa with starch and 

 sugar have long been perfectly legitimate, 

 provided no deception as to the strength in 

 cocoa be practised." 



