INSECT POWDER. 17 



In 1851 Koch (161) noted that in TraiLscaucasia tho Persian insect 

 powder is adulterated with flowers of Pyrethrum corymhosum and 

 other similar plants, and in Germany with chamomile. De Visiani 

 (67), in 1854, mentioned tho flowers of the common chamomile, 

 Anihemis cotula, Antliemis arvensis, and Spartium junceum, as 

 adulterants. In one of the earhest accounts of the nature of insect 

 powder, that of Noodt (205), written in 1858, it is stated that the 

 producers, in order to satisfy the great demand for the product, 

 grind not only flowers, but also stems and leaves, thereby detracting 

 from the quahty. He states that merchants in Germany also were 

 in the habit of mixing fresh consignments with old, long-kept goods 

 which had deteriorated with age. Schenck (242), in 1859, noted 

 the use of German chamomile as an adulterant. 



In 1861 WiUemot (294) said that the numerous adulterations 

 which insect powder imported into France between 1850 and 1860 

 had undergone prevented the public from appreciating its efficacy. 

 He mentioned the following as having been found in various powders : 

 Sumac powder, jalap, cockle of Levant, nux vomica, and arsenic. 

 Abel (1) reports that Persian insect powder was adulterated with 

 fleabane and chamomile flowers at the time of its introduction to the 

 American market, shortly before 1860. 



Schlotshauber (247), in 1862, foimd the Persian powder to contain 

 a variety of Pyrethrum corymbosum W., Pyrethrum tenuifolium 

 Tenore, and a variety of Anthemis arvensis Linn. Landerer (167, 

 168), in 1875-1877, mentioned the following as adulterants: Anthemis 

 cotula, Chrysanthemum segetum, Matricaria parthenium. In 1875 

 Miller (196) reported that old-stock German or Roman chamomile 

 flowers were ground up with insect powder. 



Lead chromate as an adulterant appears to be first mentioned by 

 Grote (108) in 1880. In the same year, Ki'al (164) reported finding 

 a number of samples colored with curcuma, but none with lead chro- 

 mate. Howie (139), in 1883, gave a method for the detection of 

 fustic, which he found as an added coloring matter in insect powder. 

 At a meeting of the Liverpool Chemists' Association in March, 1883, 

 Conroy (50) exhibited samples of imported insect powder which were 

 heavily adulterated with fustic. Schwarz (250), in 1888, reported 

 finding a sample colored with an alcohoKc solution of curcuma. 



Mason, in discussing a paper by Eirkby (156), reports having had 

 a sample of ''Dalmatian insect powder" which contained 60 per cent 

 of sumac and 30 per cent of chamomile. Howie, in the same article, 

 mentions that he found a large proportion of potato starch in a cheap 

 powder. 



Unger (282, 283, 284), 1888-1890, found the followmg adulterants 

 in insect powder: Pyrethrum stems, bariimi chromatej lead chro- 

 139815°— 20— Bull. 824 2 



