REPORT  ON  HOME  ADULTERATIONS. 
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Some  are  of  more,  some  of  less  importance,  all,  however,  suf- 
ficiently so,  we  think,  to  merit  attention  and  remark.  They  are 
mostly  articles  that  have  been  found  on  sale  in  the  interior  towns 
and  cities,  purchased  at  the  cities  East,  where  most  of  the  whole- 
saling is  done.    A  few  instances  may  be  noticed : — 
Balsam  Peru  has  been  met  with,  possessing  none  of  the  char- 
acteristics of  genuine  balsam  except  in  color  and  consistency, 
and  upon  analysis  affording  no  cinnamic  acid. 
Pulv.  Capsicum. — The  sample  examined  had  a  brick  dust  color, 
little  pungency,  and  filled  with  yellow  specks  and  strong  odor  of 
turmeric.  It  was  a  mixture  of  tumeric  and  American  capsicum, 
and,  of  course,  almost  inert. 
Castor  is  found  with  the  follicles  filled  with  saw  dust  to  half 
the  weight  of  the  castor. 
Opium  Since  the  circular  of  the  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
fixing  a  per  centage  of  morphia  for  this  drug,  a  more  uniform 
quality  has  been  found  in  market ;  but  a  great  many  samples 
have  been  observed  the  past  season  with  foreign  substances,  most 
commonly  lead,  inserted  in  the  lumps,  in  some  instances  equal 
to  20  per  cent,  of  the  weight  of  the  mass.  We  are  of  the 
opinion  that  this  was  done  abroad,  and  probably  at  the  port 
whence  shipped.  The  different  examiners  should  seek  to  detect 
this  fraud  before  passing  it. 
Musk  in  pod  has  been  observed  loaded  in  the  same  way,  to  the 
amount  of  20  grains  in  a  single  pod. 
The  Essential  Oils  are  largely  adulterated  in  this  country. 
Oil  of  Peppermint  sometimes  contains  50  per  cent,  of  alcohol. 
Oil  of  Rosemary  is  adulterated  largely  with  turpentine,  and,  in 
short,  the  whole  class  are  shamefully  sophisticated. 
Otto  of  Rose  in  the  same  class. 
Cream  of  Tartar,  adulterated  with  carbonate  of  lime,  some 
samples  to  the  extent  of  33  per  cent.,  others  in  less  proportion. 
vSul.  potash  is  also  used  for  this  purpose,  and  alum  largely.  Of 
six  specimens  examined  by  a  gentleman  of  New  York  city,  pur- 
chased at  various  shops,  but  one  was  found  pure,  some  of  them 
being  adulterated  30  per  cent.  The  same  gentleman  says,  in 
reply  to  our  inquiries,  that  from  twenty-two  specimens  or  samples 
of  essential  oils,  fourteen  were  found  to  contain  turpentine  and 
other  impurities.  The  same  gentleman  reports  samples  of 
powdered  opium  adulterated  50  per  cent. 
