[Bead, before the Victoria Institute, 88th October, 1897.) 
FOOD ADULTERATION. 
By Professor Carmody, F.C.S., &c. 
TTOU are all very -well aware that a great many things are 
I adulterated or imitated at the present time. Never before 
in the history of the world, has adulteration been so extensively 
practised. Purchasers are, in their own interests, compelled to 
exercise the most extreme caution m uying an 3 j 
Diamonds may be nothing but glass ; rubies a ^d P e arls and 
other precious stones may be the work of some si . U 
gold and silver articles may be composed large y o ,■ 
(in this town there is a gang of vagabonds who se bra s for 
gold); electroplated goods are not the suos an 1 , 
articles of former years, and they contain the sraallesit possible 
quantity of gold or silver that can entitle the. m to be sold ^ as 
electroplate; silk is no longer the pure product of the old- 
fashioned silk-worm ; velvets, woollen anr men » 
made largely from cotton and other fibres, an s leather 
imitation that only experts can distinguish ; even i the leather 
in our boots may never have been the natural envelope of y 
known species of animal. 
In other directions, we find stained pitch pine or deal doing 
duty for mahogany, oak, or walnut ; steel cutting-instruments 
that refuse to cut anything much harder than butter, y 
imitations that are made out of camphor and gmncotton, 
carpets, and pictures, and china, that are bu pool c P ' 
prototypes ; horsehair mattresses that are innocent oi ho.sehait, 
costly feat Urbeds that are made with second hand feathers , and 
cheap watc.es and clocks that are but poor temponsers. 
Unfortunate even is the man who claims the sole ^right bo- 
some successful commercial venture, whether 1 e a 1 y 
some ailment, a popular food or drink, a cleveL lnven r > 
even a good book, song, or play. The remainder of his life must 
be devoted to prosecuting imitators and plagiaus s. , 
extend the above list very considerably ; but I have said enough 
to show you that there are good grounds for the widespread com 
mercial mistrust that exists at the present time. 
