Am,juiy.f9o.5.rm"}  Dr.  Christopher  Witt.  311 
Solution  of  sodium  hypochlorite  added  to  the  acidulated  color 
solution  produced  immediate  decolorization  in  every  instance,  re- 
gardless of  the  origin  of  the  color. 
In  summarizing  the  results  of  these  investigations,  which  have 
been  conducted  during  a  period  of  about  a  year,  the  author  would 
state  that  in  his  opinion,  the  presence  of  a  coal  tar  color  can  be  pos- 
itively detected  and  that  the  authenticity  of  any  given  sample  of 
fruit  juice  or  fruit  syrup  may  be  absolutely  proved. 
The  recognition  of  many  of  the  other  vegetable  colors  which  may 
be  added  is  facilitated  by  the  application  of  several  of  the  tests  here- 
in recorded  and  reference  to  the  appropriate  table  in  each  case. 
Certain  well  known  identity  tests  for  such  colors  as  turmeric  and 
logwood  were  not  included  in  the  foregoing  work,  as  they  are  well 
established  and  need  no  further  investigation. 
It  has  been  the  intention  of  the  author  to  contribute  these  data, 
most  of  which  are  new,  with  a  view  of  clearing  up  many  of  the  diffi- 
culties which  constantly  arise,  and  to  aid  the  solution  of  the  numer- 
ous problems  which  are  called  upon  to  be  solved  in  consequence  of 
the  enforcement  of  the  laws  against  food  adulteration,  and,  as  the 
collecting  of  these  data  has  been  of  great  value  to  him,  he  submits 
them  in  the  hope  that  others  may  profit  in  an  equal  degree. 
DR.  CHRISTOPHER  WITT. 
AN    EARLY    AMERICAN    BOTANIST    AND    A  MAN  OF  MANY  AND  VARIED 
ATTAINMENTS. 
BY  M.  I.  WlLBERT, 
Apothecary  at  the  German  Hospital,  Philadelphia. 
In  the  year  16 14  there  was  published  at  Ratisbon,  in  Germany, 
a  book  that  purported  to  contain  the  true  history  of  the  Rosicrucian 
Society.  According  to  this  history,  a  German,  Christian  Rosen- 
kreuz  by  name,  had  visited  the  Orient  in  1378,  and  was  there 
initiated  into  the  most  profound  secrets  of  occult  philosophy  and 
entrusted  with  the  true  knowledge  of  the  philosopher's  stone  and 
the  elixir  of  life. 
On  his  return  to  Germany,  Rosenkreuz  is  said  to  have  gathered 
about  him  a  number  of  disciples  and  to  have  founded  the  fraternity 
of  the  Rosicrucians,  or  followers  of  Rosenkreuz.    Three  of  these 
