Quarterly Report of the Chemical Committee, Dec. 1890. 849 
Moisture 1294x 
Oil . 406 
1 Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming matters) . 22 25 1 10(1()f) 
Mucilage, sugar, and digestible tibre . . . 32-90 [ 
Woody tibre (cellulose) 2276 
Mineral matter (ash) 5 09/ 
1 Containing nitrogen 3 56 
Not a pure cake. 
The sample was taken from one of the deliveries of a lot of 
25 tons, purchased at Bury St. Edmunds Market on January 16, 
1890. The following is a copy of a memorandum of purchase entered 
in a pocket-book at the time and indorsed by the vendor : — 
July 1G, 1890. 
Bought of 2.) tons linseed and 25 tons cotton-cake respectively, 
guaranteed 95 per cent, pure, for deliver} 7 at Barnham Station as required 
between this day and Christmas next. Cash on completion of delivery. 
Price— cotton 41. 12s. 6d., linseed 8/. 
The following correspondence in connection with the matter then 
ensued : — 
Estate Office, Euston, Thetford : 
November G, 18b0. 
Deab Sir,— 
Analyst's— Cotton- CaJce, 1 ,339. 
I am obliged to you for your analysis of above, received this morning. 
As requested, I forward you invoice of the cake from which this sample was 
taken, together with particulars of the purchase of it. I stipulated for 
"pure" cake; but the vendor said, to he able to guarantee absolute purity 
was almost impossible, but that he would guarantee the cake to be 95 per 
cent. pure. With this I was satisfied. Do you consider that the sample I 
sent might come within 5 per cent, of a " pure '* cake ? — I am, dear sir, yours 
faithfully, Charles P. Hall. 
Dr. J. A. Voelcker. 
November 12, 1890. 
Dear Sir, — I beg to thank you for your reply to my inquiries. With 
reference to the cotton-cake, I would point out to you that the impurity 
which I found present in it — viz. fine-ground cereal husk — is one not natural 
to the cotton seed, but is added to the cake, and is, therefore, an adulteration. 
Although I could not say that the cake in question might not come within 
5 per cent, of purity, still it is not a pure cal;e, but adulterated with practi- 
cally worthless material. Whether the quantity be large or only small, it is 
clearly a case of adulteration. The case in question is illustrative of the 
evil of a " 95 per cent, pure " guarantee ; particularly in the case of cotton- 
cake it would simply mean that 5 per cent, should be allowed ; and as it is 
impossible to determine exactly the amount of admixture, you cannot prove 
whether more or less might not have been added. 1 would recommend you 
to buy your cake guaranteed pure, and to be delivered in good condition, as 
advised" in the inclosed contract note. — Yours faithfully, 
C. r. Hall, Esq. pp. J. Augustus Voelcker, 
E. W. Voelcker. 
5. Mr. T. L. Wickham, of Chestnut Grove, Boston Spa, Yorks, 
Bent a sample of linseed-cake which he had purchased at 71. 10s. 
VOL. I. T. S.— 4 3 K 
