541 
©ffictal IRepovts. 
QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE CHEMICAL 
COMMITTEE. 
July, 1894. 
1. Mr. James Norris, of Castle Hill, Blechingley, Surrey, sent 
for analysis, on May 18, a sample of Linseed-cake, 3 tons 4 cwt. of 
which he had purchased, and which was invoiced as follows : — 
33 bags Round Italian Linseed Cakes made of linseed with natural 
admixture. 3 tons 4 cwt. 25 lb. at 6/. 18s. 9 d. per ton = 2 21. 5s. 6 d. 
Dr. Yoelcker’s report was : — 
A cake not only impure by reason of the foreign seeds in it, but posi- 
tively poisonous owing to the presence of a very considerable quantity of 
castor-oil bean. 
The cake is also somewhat acid. 
Mr. Norris stated that he had had a number of fat lambs die, 
and that on calling in Mr. A. Glover, Y.S., Godstone Station, he 
examined a dead lamb, and said it died from eating impure artificial 
food. The vendors, when complaint was made to them, gave Mr. 
Norris a certificate of analysis stating that the cake was “pure.” 
Fresh samples were drawn at the vendors’ request, and submitted to 
a third chemist. Ultimately it was satisfactorily ascertained that 
the delivery of cake was a mixed lot, and that, while some of the 
cakes comprising it were free from castor-oil bean, others contained 
a very large proportion of this poisonous seed. 
Altogether Mr. Norris lost over thirty lambs. 
As Dr. Yoelcker pointed out to Mr. Norris, castor-oil bean could 
hardly be considered as “ natural admixture.” 
2. Mr. Norris also sent, on May IS, a sample of 4 tons of Lin- 
seed-cake which he had purchased from Messrs. Taylor & Pinnock, 
of 36 Mark Lane, London. This cake was invoiced : — 
Moisture 
Oil . 
May 24, 1894. 
13-47\ 
12-57 
1 Albuminous compounds (flesh-forming matters) 
Mucilage, sugar, and digestible fibre 
Woody fibre (cellulose) ..... 
2 Mineral matter (ash) ..... 
1 containing nitrogen 
2 including sand . 
4-47 
1-89 
