294 ADULTERATION OF FOOD, DRUGS, ETC. 
dale, gave similar evidence of the success of that society, 
which had discontinued the use of alum with good effect. 
He also mentioned another society at Rochdale for the sale 
of articles of food generally, on account of the prevalence 
of adulteration. 
Dr. Challis , of Bermondsey, had examined many samples 
of bread containing alum. Did not agree with those who 
think that alum is so changed in the process of baking as to 
be harmless. He considered it injurious to the stomach, and 
had found crystals of alum in bread. There was no neces- 
sity to use alum ; a little more salt would answer the same 
purpose, without causing injury. Rice was also used in 
bread, which he considered a fraud. In the course of his 
practice he had seen evidence of the adulteration of beer by 
some intoxicating substance, the nature of which it was 
scarcely possible to detect by chemical process. He directed 
attention to the injurious effects resulting from the sale of 
diseased meat, and stated cases in w 7 hich the adulteration of 
mustard had caused disappointment when used medicinally ; 
which remark was also applicable to many drugs ; and he 
thought powers might be given to vestries, under Sir Ben. 
Hall’s Act, to interfere in cases of adulteration. 
Mr. R. tlsshur , a grower of English rhubarb at Banbury, 
having been accused by some former witnesses of selling a 
spurious article, inferior to foreign rhubarb, quoted Dr. 
Pereira in defence of English rhubarb, and stated that it w 7 as 
recommended by many medical men, and that the demand 
was increasing. 
Mr. R. Gay , superintendent of the mustard department of 
her Majesty’s Victualling Yard, Deptford, said, that on ac- 
count of the universal adulteration of mustard, the govern- 
ment had lately undertaken the preparation of it. He had 
been a drug-grinder for thirty years prior to his present ap- 
pointment. It had always been possible to obtain genuine 
mustard, but it was mixed to suit the public, as the genuine 
mustard became black by keeping, and the public did not 
like it. It was sometimes mixed with flour, ginger, and 
cayenne. In some government stores he had detected fifty 
per cent, of gypsum in the mustard before the present plan 
had been adopted. The mustard now supplied to the navy 
was pure. The presence of turmeric in mustard could be de- 
tected by spirit of ammonia giving a browrn colour. While 
in the drug-grinding trade he had much experience in adulte- 
ration, being obliged to do it. Sometimes the sawdust and 
other things w 7 ere sent to him to be mixed — in other cases 
he was ordered to supply them. Many of his customers dis- 
