114 
ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 
certained. It is due to the respectable house who purchased 
some of this article to say, that they immediately declined 
selling it as Rochelle salts, upon being informed of its true 
character. 
It is believed that the sulphates of magnesia and soda have 
been frequently used to adulterate the powdered Rochelle 
salts and Seidlitz mixture; being mixed in such quantities 
with the true article as to affect the quality without changing the 
taste enough for the deception to be discovered in that way. 
The difference in the value of the Rochelle salts, no doubt,' is 
the inducement to this unprincipled conduct. 
When a lot of Rochelle or Seidlitz is suspected to be thus 
contaminated, it can be readily discovered by adding a small 
quantity of the solution of nitrate of barytes to a solution of 
the suspected article, a precipitate being thus formed of sul- 
phate of barytes. 
Sup. Carh. Sodx. Sup. carb. sodse is said to be adulterated 
by means of the sulphate of soda. Physicians and druggists 
should be on their guard in purchasing this article, and espe- 
cially that which is imported from England. J. S. 
