ON FALSIFICATIONS AND ADULTERATIONS. 
19 
of sugar, — all the ingredients having been well dried to pre- 
vent combination. The mere solution of it in water, which 
was accompanied by an evolution of carbonic acid, formed a 
most agreeable diaphoretic medicine ; but it is obvious that 
the article was not entitled to the name by which it was sold, 
the quantity requisite to produce a certain effect on the sys- 
tem being much and uncertainly larger than that of the 
citrate of potassa, inasmuch as an unknown proportion of its 
weight was sugar and carbonic acid. 
Benzoic acid. — I bought, a few days ago, 2 lbs. of " ben- 
zoic acid" from a manufacturer, who stated in strong terms 
his determination to make none but pure chemicals. The 
sample from which I ordered it, was apparently a beautiful 
article, and at a rather lower price than is generally de- 
manded. The acid when brought was declared to be per- 
fectly pure. My attention was soon afterwards directed to it 
by B. F. HoECKLY, an apprentice in our establishment, who, 
in bottling it up, found it full of gritty particles of a sweet 
taste, which he suspected to be sugar. On examination, by 
attempting the solution of two separate portions respectively 
in cold water, and in highly concentrated alcohol, I found that it 
contained 50 per cent, of powdered white sugar. The alcohol 
dissolved the true acid, leaving 50 per cent, of sugar insoluble 
in that menstruum ; and the water, which was of a winter 
temperature, dissolved the sugar of the other sample, leaving 
an equal quantity of true benzoic acid, which was separated 
by filtration. This purchase, which was our first, was of 
course also our last transaction with the house in question. 
Jlntimonii oxidum. — This oxide, besides its medicinal 
uses, is sometimes used as a colouring matter for enamel 
painting. A manufacturer of porcelain teeth lately complain- 
ed of the quality of some which we had ourselves imported 
from London last year. He suggested that it must be adul- 
terated, as it would not produce the colour desired. It had 
