ADULTERATION OF FOOD, DRUGS, ETC. 295 
liked the practice, but were obliged to do as others did, on 
account of the competition. The use of sawdust was uni- 
versal in powders. He alluded chiefly to the neighbourhood 
of Leeds, where he had carried on the business, and could 
not positively state what was the practice in London. 
March 12. — Dr. Neligan , of Dublin, said he believed drugs 
were less adulterated in England than in Ireland. In Ireland 
no person except an apothecary could compound medicines. 
He thought the adulteration of drugs was chiefly between 
the wholesale druggist and drug-grinder. In reference to a 
recent case of accidental poisoning, he mentioned that the 
College of Physicians of Dublin had recently issued an order 
that dangerous medicines should be kept in angular or square 
bottles, and those of a harmless nature in round bottles. He 
did not think the adulteration of food was practised to any 
great extent in Ireland. Much injury was done by the un- 
restricted sale of quack medicines. 
Mr. P. Ripley , a tea-broker, said the chief adulteration of 
tea in China was that of the “lie tea, 5 ’ the sale of which had 
risen from 100,000lbs. to 500,000lbs., but the demand having 
ceased, it was no longer sent to this country. He contra- 
dicted the statement that green tea was coloured with 
copper. 
Mr. Weston , tea-broker, confirmed the statement of the last 
witness to the effect that the adulteration of tea is not prac- 
tised to any great extent. 
Mr. locock , wholesale tea-dealer, gave similar evidence. He 
did not believe tea was adulterated by retailers, and it was 
generally sold in a very good state. 
Mr. F. Crace Calvert , of Manchester, gave evidence on the 
adulteration of flour with potato-starch, rice, maize, and also 
with unsound and damaged flour. He noticed the adulte- 
ration of oatmeal, milk, &c. The guardians of poor-law 
unions encouraged such frauds by habitually taking the lowest 
tender. He gave many instances of the adulteration of drugs, 
and explained the state of the law in France on this subject. 
Mr. R. J. Richardson , Inspector of Nuisances near Man- 
chester, gave evidence as to the injurious effects of diseased 
meat, and the sale of such as was unfit for human food. 
The Committee adjourned until Wednesday, April 2d. 
Since the above was in type, we have observed another 
article on the subject in the Times of March 22d, written in 
the same strain as the former, and equally calculated to deve- 
lop “ the reign of terror 55 in the public mind. Here is a 
sweeping anathema on the public ! for it must be remembered 
that the public is equally the criminal and the victim — each 
