ADULTERATION OF FOOD, DRUGS, ETC. 291 
that, with all the wealth of the world at our call, there are 
very few in this metropolis who can get a glass of pure water 
to drink, or a bit of genuine bread to eat !’* 
If this suggestion be put forward as an original idea, 
founded on the evidence before the Committee, it sufficiently 
demonstrates the fallacy to which that evidence leads, when 
literally translated into plain English. Experience has taught 
us, and experience equally taught our forefathers, that there 
is a definite relation between honest principle and success in 
business ; that although we may occasionally meet with a 
lucky rogue, or an upright man who is unfortunate, yet these 
are exceptions to the general rule, handed down by our 
ancestors, in the old maxim, that “ Honesty is the best 
policy.” 
There are honest men as well as rogues in every trade. 
There are also persons who, without the intention of acting 
dishonestly or the ability to detect imposition, fall into the 
snare laid for them by others, and buy what the market 
affords, according to the demand — which demand is regu- 
lated by the price their customers are willing to pay, and the 
kind of articles which are found to give satisfaction. This 
latter class of persons will be benefited by the disclosures 
which have been made before the Parliamentary Committee, 
for, although the evidence contains but little if anything that 
was not previously known by those who had paid attention 
to the subject, many of the facts elicited are new to the public 
at large, and will probably induce purchasers to be more care- 
ful and fastidious with regard to quality, and less unwilling 
to pay a fair price. 
We subjoin a few extracts from the evidence in a con- 
densed form : 
Feb. 29- — Dr . Alfred Taylor commenced by alluding to 
the poisonous colours used in confectionery, such as Scheele’s 
green, red lead, &c. The oil of bitter alrponds and almond 
flavour he considered dangerous, and quoted several cases of 
accidental death from an over-dose. The prussic acid, al- 
though one of the constituents of the oil, might be separated 
from it without impairing its value for flavouring custards, 
&c. The word poison should otherwise be invariably printed 
on the label. Hair-dye containing oxide of lead had been 
known to produce partial paralysis by the absorption of the 
lead. Dr. Taylor confirmed generally the statements of other 
witnesses respecting the colour of anchovy sauce, pickles, &c. 
In the bread which he had examined, he had not found any 
appreciable quantity of alum. In small quantities alum would 
not be injurious, but it was a question whether the intro- 
