March 22, 1S73-] 
THE PHARMACEUTICAL JOURNAL AND TRANSACTIONS. 
755 
ing lacto-phosphate of lime, when it can be made of a 
definite strength. In the formula given it contains 60 
grains to the fluid ounce, which is about equal to 30 grains 
of phosphate of lime, and is of convenient strength. It 
has a slightly acid taste, which, however, is not unplea¬ 
sant, but rather renders the emulsion less cloying than if 
entirely sweet. As made by the formula, the preparation 
will keep in good condition for two or three weeks, but 
will eventually spoil, as shown by the blowing out of the 
stopper, although the taste and character are not mate¬ 
rially altered. 
If meant for sale to the trade, the addition of about 20 
per cent, of alcohol renders it more permanent, and in 
most cases may not be therapeutically objectionable. 
This led to some remarks upon the preparation, during 
which Mr. Chiles gave a formula (which will be published 
in a future number). The question of the legality of sell¬ 
ing the preparation was discussed, there being a patent 
for the manufacture of a similar compound. Mr. Chiles 
stated that he also prepared a lozenge of lacto-phosphate 
of lime and pepsin. 
prliitmenterj attir $ato ftateeMngs. 
Prosecutions under the Adulteration Act. 
At the Clerkenwell Police Court, on Friday, March 14, 
George Brown, a tea-dealer and grocer, of 27, Central- 
street, St. Luke’s, was summoned before Mr. Barker, 
by James Neighbour, sanitary inspector, appointed by 
the vestry of St. Luke’s, Middlesex, under the Act to 
Amend the Law for the Prevention of Adulteration of 
Food and Drink and Drugs, 35th and 36th Viet., cap. 74, 
“ for unlawfully selling tea, and knowing the same to be 
mixed with another substance, with intent fraudulently to 
increase the weight and bulk, and without declaring such 
admixture to the purchaser thereof, before delivering it.” 
Mr. Parkes opened the case at some length, and having 
stated the provisions of the act under which these proceed¬ 
ings are taken, said that the vestry, anxious to repress the 
illicit trade in adulterated food and drink, and other articles, 
prevailing in the parish, at the earliest opportunity deter¬ 
mined to put in force the provisions of the act, and 
for that purpose appointed Dr. Pavy, of Guy’s Hospital, 
M.D., F.R.S., analyst, and Mr. James Neighbour (sanitary 
inspector of the parish), inspector under the said act. As 
soon as the appointments were ratified by the Local 
Government Board, samples of apparently adulterated 
articles of food and drink were procured by the inspector 
and submitted to Dr. Pavy, for the necessary analysis, and 
the result had been the taking out the present summons. 
The case before the magistrate was a most flagrant one, 
and the fraudulent intent was clearly palpable, for upon 
analysis the rubbish sold as tea in each case was found to 
contain ingredients consisting of iron filings and clippings, 
gritty matter, small fragments of wood, and foreign stalks 
which could be plainly seen by the aid of a microscope, 
and the iron filings adhered in profusion to a magnet 
placed in it. He contended that the defendant, being a 
professed dealer in tea, could not but know that the 
articles so sold were fraudulently increased in weight and 
bulk, and he asked for a conviction, as this case came 
within the meaning of the act. He then called 
Mr. James Neighbour, who deposed that on the 19th of 
February last he entered the defendant’s shop, and asked 
for 4oz. of Is. 4d. tea, which was supplied, also 4oz. of 8d. 
tea, and that was also supplied, he paying 6d. for the whole. 
The person who served him did not declare that there was 
any other substance or admixture in the tea purchased, or 
that the tea was in any way adulterated, and he saw no 
notice of any admixture or adulteration. He took the 
packets of tea and delivered the same to Dr. Pavy, the 
analyst, in the same condition, and in the same packets, as 
delivered to him by the person who served him. Each 
packet was divided into two parts, one of such parts being 
retained by Dr. Pavy for analysis, and the other parts 
were sealed up in his presence, and have remained in the 
same state as now produced. He received the two certi¬ 
ficates produced from Dr. Pavy, who certified that both 
samples of tea were in an adulterated condition, one sample 
being adulterated with iron filings and clippings, gritty 
matter, and foreign stalks, whilst the other consisted of 
tea dust, with adulteration composed of iron filings and 
clippings, gritty matter, small fragments of wood, and 
foreign stalks. 
By Mr. Ricketts.—He did not expect to get a good and 
unadulterated tea at 8d. per lb. He did not see in the 
defendant’s shop placards, “ This capital mixture 8d. per 
lb.,” nor “ Our noted mixture Is. per lb.—try it.” He 
did know that tea got between the lead and the chest, 
and that it was knocked out and sold as tea. He should 
not say that that would make “noted mixture.” 
Mr. Barker looked at the mixture through a microscope, 
and also applied the i*agnet to it. When the magnet was 
taken out there were many particles adhering to it. 
Mr. Parkes said that was the case for the prosecution. 
Mr. Ricketts said if that was so there must be an end 
of the case, for the certificates of the analyst did not com¬ 
ply with the provisions of the act. By the 9th section the 
analyst had to certify whether such article in his opinion 
submitted to him was adulterated, and also whether, if it 
be an article of food or drink, it is so adulterated as to be 
injurious to the health of persons eating or drinking the 
same. He had a good answer to the case on its merits. 
Mr. Parkes said that by the 3rd section the words cited 
by this section were not necessary. 
Mr. Barker said he should adjourn the case for a fort¬ 
night to consider the point. There was no doubt from the 
samples he had seen that they were very much adulterated. 
Mr. Ricketts said he hoped that the prosecutors would 
not be allowed to re-open their case, or to supplement it 
with fresh evidence. 
Mr. Barker adjourned the case for a fortnight. 
Ellen Jones, of 151, Lever-street, and David Jones, of 
5, York-road, St.Luke’s, were also summoned by Mr. James 
Neighbour, for selling adulterated milk; and these were 
adjourned to know the result of the objections taken in the 
last case.— Standard. 
Attempted Suicide by Red Precipitate. 
A few days since Emily Thompson was charged at the 
Worship Street Police Court with attempting suicide. It 
appeared from the evidence that the prisoner, being in 
liquor, put some red precipitate powder into a cup of tea 
and drank it off. She was attended by a doctor, but did 
not appear to suffer much. Upon her were found two 
papers which were labelled “ Red precipitate—poison, 
and Mr. Hannay said that he should like to know how 
these poisons came to be sold. For that purpose he sent 
for the chemist whose name was upon the packets. The 
■witness, carrying on business at 70, Hyde-road, Hoxton, 
stated, in reply to Mr. Hannay, that red precipitate was 
red oxide of mercury. The two packets would contain 
about two scruples—quite sufficient to destroy life. He 
put in the regulations recently made by the Pharmaceutical 
Society as to the sale of the poison in question, but said 
that he had no recollection of selling to the prisoner. It 
was a very common thing to sell either red or white pre¬ 
cipitate, and witness sold about a hundred packets a week. 
Mr. Hannay, after looking into the law as to the sale of 
poisons, said that the witness had complied with it. 
The prisoner said that she was sorry, and her husband 
promised to take care of her for the future. He thought 
her attempt was the result of grief. 
Mr. Hannay, after cautioning the prisoner, discharged, 
her.— Standard. 
