Chicago Daily Tribune Newspaper, February 9, 1879, Page 12

ig <~ THE CHICAGD TRIBUKE: SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 5. 187)—SIXTEEN PAGES. - e ADULTERATION. Frightful Abuse of the Stomachs i of the American People. Peanuts, Chiccory, Beans, :mdl Blue Clay Mixed with Coflce. | ingPowders Made with Alum | Instead of Cream-of- Tartar. Tea Poisoned with Black Lead, Prussian Blue, Dulch Pink, and Ar- senite of Copper. 0il of Vitriol in Vinegar—Flour Mized with Plaster of Paris, Olay, Bone-Dust, Ete, Glucose in Sugar---Terra-Alba, Mer- cury, Copper, and Lead in Candy---Arsenic in ‘Wall-Paper. by the Leading Medical Socie- ties of New York. COFFEE. Xew York Erening Post. The writer hereof, while sitting In the office of 2 large coffee and spice mill a few years ago, heard a clerk ask the manager whether an ardpr for a large quantiry of ground coffee conh:) be filled within 8 certain time. Before replying, the manager stepped to 2 speaking-tube, whistled, and then asked: ©Has that cargo of peanuts arrived yet?? Haviog received svan- gwer apparently satisfactory, he told the clerk 1hat the order could be filled in the time men- tioned. A not unnatural curiosity to learn what connection existed between coffee und ‘peanuts falled Lo obtain any very definite response from 1he manager, and it is oniy recently 1hn_: the mystery has been solved to the writer's satisfac- tion. Pesputs for a lonz time were used to adulterate ground coffce, until the public, be- coming distrustful of the eround article, ceased buying any coffee except that which was ronsted whole and so sold. This practice great- Iy checked the adulteration ot coffee until very Jately; but so profitzbly can coffee be adul- terated that already there are several processes in use for preparing a coffce-bean out af_a variety of forcien substances. For example, in Eozland, spolication for a patent has been made for pressing finely-ground chiccory into molds of the exact shape of coffec-veans. Dr. William A. Hamwong, formerly Surgeon- Geperal of the United States, told the writer that, during the War, be found he cofee- grounds in the Jarze Goverument hospitals were regularly bought by certain dealers, who then scld them to coflee and spice mills. As nearly as he could remcinber, most of the coffee-grounds from the Washington hospitals went to Delaware, The trade was so openly carried on thst the dealers thought bestto gccount for it by saying that the grounds were used not for making coffce a second time, but for sdulterating pepper and spices; but Dr. Hammond said that there were so many other things coually aailsble for thoss purposes that be felt confident the spent coflee was dried, worked over, and, after beng mixed with a cer- tain proportion ot iresh rround coffee, offered for sale. 2 1In the course of investigating this eubject, she Evening Post's representative happened to meet an old acguaintance formerly euzagedin 2 coffee and spice mill. On being asked about some of the tricks of the trade, ke sald: “Xow, look here, you think it there's noth- ing 0o bad _to be done in oue of these mills, tut I can tell you of a trick that beats any adul- teration thev ever did clean out of sight.” . Havipy obtaiued a promise that no names should be used, he said that he had been asked = couple of years ago if he would Jike to under- take the manufactere of aruticial coffee. Ie- ing of a spcculative turn ol mind (and en ~2axsant, none too scrupulous) he went into the business. “Weused to buy a very soft, fine blue clay, griad it thoroughty and dry out the watcr. It was then muoisteued to a molding consistency with extract of chiceory and . dandelion, molded into coffee-hean shape and mixed with a certain ‘projortion of pure coffec. Wheu roasted it irad ail the appearance of genuine collce, with the adaitional xdvantuze to us of weirhuz more. Usiog 25 per centum of clay beaws, which weighed about 25 per_ceutum more than the real coffee, we would et G1f per centuni more weight out of a given quantity by measure, and this additional weight was enouit to pay for the working ot the clay into shape; 8o thut oprcls cetlee srave us a clean profit of 25 cents on the dotlar. beside the profit on the genniuc cofice.” +DId you sell much of it#* “We did = very lorge business, We coulu undersell any other house in the market, but w: never ran down our _prices s0 48 o excite sus; cion. By keapinz jusi enough below muarkel rates to seenre a sale for all we could handie, we Xept up zood profits and a good reputation.” “Where did_vour clay come from?" : [hat I can’d tell you. 1've goue out of the business myself for reasons of my own, but—" 'here are othera stll engaged init; is that Draft of an Anti-Adulteration Law i | | | | e “wWell, I reckon I've told yor enough for one day uppose you huxt up somebody clse.”” dilizent search through New York and Brooklyn failed to disvover awy more trace of 1bis business, ami it i< probably caried on v Boston, Phi'adelohia, or the West. “That' caiccory aud- vereals (beans, wheat, or rye) arc made to resemble the native coffee bean is proven by the nnalysis of the samples bought in different New York grocerivs. The first caght samples mentioned in Dr. Mott's report were btought whole and ground in the presence of the buyer. Unfortunately no samoles ot the whole beans were taken, but the fact that chiccory was fouud 1n consideralile quantities in 25 ver cent of the sampies shows that it must have been pressed into_shape to resemble coflee. House- wives, therefore, who bave heretofors depended upon buving their coffee whole, to get 1t pure, will find that they have been leaning on a broken reed. o 1In rossting coffee its weight is diminished by the evaporation of its moisture, from 14 10 2J) per centum. Some dealers succeed in recovering a of this loss. Just as the hot cofee s witharawn from the roaster, a spray jet of hot water is turned upon it for ananstant. The heat of the cofee evaporates most of the water, bot about 4 to 5 per centum of weight 1s re- stored. The objection to this trick ie thatit causes 8 very uoticeahle loss of aroma, uml theretore lowers the strenath of the cotle Some dealers have processes for treating in- {ferior kinds of coffee 50 a8 to make them appear like the better quahtics. For instance, San Do- minzo, Mexican, Marscaibo, and Rio are made 10 resemble Java by a kind of sweating. As Java eells at about twenty-three cents 2 pound ‘wholesale, and the others at about fifteen cents a pound, the profit will be seen 10 be enormous BAKING-POWDER. There are certain constituents of good baking- powder which may be regarded as entirely free from danger. ‘Tlie consist of pure grape cream of tartar, bicarbonate of soda, and carbonate of ammonis. The cream of tartar unites with the other two ineredients, aud carbonic acid gas is 1hrowp ofl, producing the same effect as “yeast in a much shorter tin Iu has been found, however, that alum will also unite with the oiher two articles, and cerbonic acid_gas will be vroduced. Ae alum costs less than three cents, while cream of tartar costs more than30 cents a pouud, it is easy to see why alum is substituted for the latter by sunie baking-powder manufae- turers. its admitted by uli medical authori- t:cs shat cream of tartar Jeaves mo Injurious substance 1n te bresd: alum, on the other is iu atselfl an astrincent, aud there is ud deep-seated prejudice sgainst its usc. =laud aud other countries the adulteration foml with alum is forbidden by law The _chemical el- bt of under heavy .penalties. ject of alum used fn bread to whiten i is to form two salte of alumina—the sulphate and the phosphate of alumina. When used in baking powder the slum forms a tirird eait, the bydrate of aluming, 8s well as the othier two. “I'his kydrate of alumina is far niore eastly soluble than the other two: heuce any objection that may exist to tie use of slum alone in bread applies with greater force to its use in baking-powder. Dr. Willizm A. Hammond, formerly. Sargeon- General United States Army, of No. 43 West Tifty-tourth strest, expressed himeclf as per- § Zectly certain of tie juiurions effects of alura. | 1 whether uscd alone to whiten bread, or as an adulterant of baking powders. Alluding to the claim advanced that the alum was neutralized ed into an insoluble salt, he said that holly improbable assumptivn, since such a perfect chiauze conld not take place un- less the amount of alum and the bicarbynate of soda were combined {in the exact chemical _ratio npecessary for cach to absork all the other. - Not only was this impossible in the manufacture of lurwe quantities of baking-powder, but the ho- mogeneous chiuracter of the compound could not be exactly maintaiued throughout the whole mass, and therefore there would be sure to be & certain amount of free alfn in any bread made with an alum bakine-powder. But even if the exact proportion were maintained, the salts formed would retaiu their injurious properiies, as they would be dissolved in the gastrie juice. "The gastrie juice contained not only actic acid, but a large amount of hydro-chlorie acid, and both the sulphate and bydrate of alumina would be dissotved. ‘The phosphate might not be, but in that case the breud would be deprived of one of its most desirablo inaredients, king the use of alum not only dangerous Lo thestom- ach, but detenterating to the food. "1:hu hy- drate of alumina.” Dr. Hammond said, “would certainly be injurious to the mucous membrane. It would inevitably tend to constipate the bow- els and interfere with digestion; and anything it fends to render the slbumen of the bread insoluble, and mn;u{pm ukfis away from its utritive value, is injurious. n'l‘hera are probabiy more than 500 kinds of baking powder manufactured in this country, and, while some of thetn are sold from the At- lantizto the Pactfic, the majority nave only a Jocal sale near their respective places of manu- facture. Through Dr. Heory A. Mott, Jr., the ‘well-kuown chemist, one of the mostcompetent, trustworthy. znd careful experts of this country, The following smalyses were_obtained, showinic the presenteot alum in larac quantities . in many of the haking-powders having awide sale. Dr. Mott kindly furnished not only the results of his own apalyses, bat ouly thase of several chemists of bis professional standing, included Prof. Heors Mortog, President of Stevens Insti- stitute of Technology; Prof . Scuedlery Dr. Stillwell, of Walz & Stillwell, k natytical chemists, this eity, and Prof. Patrick, ol Mis- souri. i Dr. Mott’s report is as follows: § Sir: In accordance with your request, e S body the fesults b the analyses ‘of Laking powders, in all of which alna was found as an ingreaient: “Grant's™ (J. C. Bhflnl-n\'inciblc" (Sayder Brotbers & Co., Cin- ins alum, (Dooley & Drother, New York), tairs aluim. O eco™ (Smith, Hanway & Co., Baltimore, Afd.). coutajrs alum. 3 i " (Rolrer, Christion & Co., St. Louts). tains alum. O hdrews’ Rezal ® (C. E. Andrews & Co., Mil- waukee). contains alu. “'Queen™ (Lennetr & Sloan, New Haven, 0.), contains al "Xicona™ (Church & Co., New York City). containsalum. “orient ™ {Crouse, Walrath & Co., Syracuse, . Y. ). contain: alum. 4 .* Amazon * (Erskine & Erskine, Louisille, , coniains aluni. 0. Perrine, Chicago, TiL), K “lakeside " (C. containa alum. i ++'Pvin Sisters? (Union Chemical Works, Chi- cago, 1Il.), contains alum. » T Snperlative * (A W. Zietow & Co., New York), contuins alnm. “ King " contains alum. hite Lily > (Jewetd & Sherman Co., Mlwau- kee. Wis. ), contains alum. +*Monarch ™ (lircker, Crombie & Co., Milwaa- kee, Wis. ), contains slum. + Cne Spoon ™ (Tayior Manufacturing Company, St. Louis). contains alum. ““imperial ¥ _(Spraguce, Warner & Griswold, Chicago), contains alum. “*Houest™ 1Schoch & Wechsler, St Paul, Minu,), contains alum. *+ Eeonowical " (Spencer Bros. & Co., Chicago, ps alum, :: r" (L. E. L), containsalum. ““Cnartres " (Thomson & Taylor, Chicago), con- taing alum, “~Giant " (W. F. McLaughlin, Chicago), con- tains alen. -+ Richard's Queen™ (Star Chemical Works, Chicazo), contains alum. Yours very traly, HEeNnY Morrt, Jr., Ph. D., E. M. Dr. Mot, the Government Chemist, in bis re- vicw of this subject in the Scentific American, makes spe mention of having analyzed Royal buking powder, and found it coniposed of wholesome inaterials. e also advises the pub- lic to avoid purchasing baking powders as soid luose or in buli, as lie found by analysis of mauy samples that the worst adulterations are practiced In this torm. The lupel and trade- mark of a well-known and responsible manu- facturer, he adds, is tie best protection the pub- lic can have. Tagylor, Chicago, TEA. - From intertieics with Georse T. Angell, in Boston Iierald. 1 stated In mr paper read before the Xocial Scienve Assoclation that the adulterations of teas were too rumerous to mention. Alr. Sharples says that 50 far as be knows there is 10 such adulteration practiced in this country, and that, as a rale, our teas are generally good and pure, and sold as they come, vut of the orlmnai packages. In my’ u:\gcrl do not say where the teas are adalterated. I only charge thut they are adulterated. I suppose. however, that most of the adulteraticns are made before the teas reach this_country. In Hassall's work ou adulteration 1 find twenty-nine pages devoted to descriptions of the various adulterants and methcds of adulteration of teas. Many ot the articles used in such manipulation are very daneerous, and, I think, fully justify my state- ments. % ._ xtract clipped from the Boston Journa! of May 5, 1877, it is stated that the Jaws of Canada require the Commissioner of luland Revenue Lo cause an analvsis of various articles of food tob: madein order that the public may know correctly of their nature. The Com- wissioner, in treating of the subject of teas, is quoted as saying that “hereafter the tea suppties of Canada and of the United States are wore fikely to be adulterated thau heretofore, pecause the customs authorities of England are anthorized to - refuse entry to teas which are found to be adulterated.” In the Massachusetts State Board of Health report of 1874, pawe 477, it is stated that teasare colored wita black Tead and Prussian blue. In an article;srom the St. Albans Messehger of Jan. 38,1879, copred from the San Francisco News-Letter, I fina_some f: rezarding the trade frauds and aduiterations practiced o San Francisco. Here 1 find stated that eximusted tea-leaves are iwported at a low i teas. « They have been_redried sod col- ored with Pru¥sian blue or jndizo, :nd combined with powdered gypstm and turmerie. From the New York £vening Fost 1learu that the sophis- tications practiced upon teas are large in num- ber and olten harm(ulin character. ‘Lhe greater part of the udulterarion occurs in China, but the Euslish and Amerizans appear to nave become skill:ul imitators of the Cninese inat Jeast some branches of this nefarious industry. Miveral and organic substances are u: to meresse the weight and bulk of the tea. Fictitious strength isimparted te it by the additonal substances, aud pizments 2re emiploved to produce a desira~ ble color. A preparation rejoicing in the name of “Lictea,” was formerly, and is doubtless atill, used a3 an admixture with genuine tea, particularly with gunpowder. “Lie tea” con- sists of Uit dust of tea and other leaves, whicn is mixed with various mineral substances, and asrluvinated into little masses by means of starch or gum. Itis treated with wineral pig- meats. But the operation which is most generally car- ried on is the artificial facinz or coloring of teas. This practice is almost enuirely contined to oreen teas, of which, it is said, on high au- thority. but few grades reach the consumer fu o pure state. Green teais also couverted into black by chemical treatment. ln fact, these metamorphoses bave given rise to a speaal amd repular branch of business, notably in_ this ity (New York) and Philadelphia. ‘The pigments most used for coloring green teas are Prassiau biue, indigo, turmeric, 2ud China clay, the pecu- lar glossy surface they fret‘ncmly preseat be- ing vroduced by means of black lead, tale, and soapstone. Otber and far more dungerous sub- stances. such as arsenite of vopper, chromate of lead, and Dutch piuk, are said to be somtimes employed. From the New York Sun 1 take this extract: .‘In most of our leading hotels and eating-houses the tea-grounds are saved by the servants und sold to parties who come around 10 wagons at stated intervals. What they did with the grounds was, for = long time, a mystery. _Lately, however, the secret has eseaped. We hear, on good authority, that they are taken to & 1actory in the vicinity of Central Park, stecped in acid, and dried in The sup on copper plates. By this process each leaf is shriveled and made to as- sume its lormer shape. The color is_beautiful, and the old «en odor, so familiar to all who love this delightful drink, is plainly recognized. The drying process_completed, the yrounds are packed in tin caddies or wooden boxes, and dis- tributea through the country, where its remark- able cheapness attracts universal attention. Oceasionally a little wenuine tea is mixed with this preparation. . . . The tea is not strong enough to injure anybody’s nerves, but the acids used may undermioe the health and prove extremely iajurious to invalids. As a seneral thing, the farmers can lay down this rule: the greener the leaf and the brizhter the caddy, the rer the tea.”” There, 1 think I nave given enough to convince the most skeptical that teas are adulterated, aud that some of the adultera- rions have been made in this country, thoueh, of course, China is the centre of such adultera- tioo. DUTTER, CHEESE, AND MILK. 1 have auihority showing that oleomargarine Grant, Philadelphis), contains | Is mted with real butter, aud that it is quite | difiienlt to distinguish the mixture in the tharket; and I find in the Advertiser of De 1877, that it was then estimated timt oleomargariue ciceses were daily manu: i this country. This cheese consists of oleo- margarine oil mixed with skim-milk, and it is caid can scarcely e detected from true che T the second place, judring from what is inl the Boston Journal o Chemistry in regard to the larze number of 1D vessels i Phiiadelphia found to contain leaa, aud that severai children had died in Michizan from Iena-poisoning by driuking milk which had stood in tin pans, and, that a farge portion of the tinware in the market is unlit for use, I should say that, inmy judgment, such revelatious ouht to lead to an fmmediate testing of our wilk-cans. VINEGAR, EIC. Tn the edition of Chiambers’ Encyclonredia for 1574, the 40Sth page of yolume 4, we shall find Wit cayenue_ pepper fs adulterated with red Jead, mustard with chromate of lead, curry vowder with red lead, and vinezar with sulphuric acid, arsenic, and corrosive sublimaf In Massachusetts, it appears by the report of the State Board of Health for 1872, page 136, that a common adulteravtof vinegarissulpburic acid, In the Massachusetts Ploughman-of Dec. 1,1877, 1 tind an article copied from the Ameri- can: Manugacturer, in relation to vinegar adul- terstion. In it is this statement: ‘A consizo- ment of spurious vinegar was recently recently rejected and condemued by the Board of Health of the District of Columbia.” It was from Cni- cago, and consisted of three car-louas. ‘Ihe vort of the 1D t Board of lealth ou this case closes with these words: ¢ When we think that oil of vitriol (sulphuric acid) can be bougnt at five cents 1 pound, and that a_pound of said acid would render a barrel of fluid as acid us the strongest Vinegar, the wonder will cease that it can be sold cheap.” The Scientific American thus closes a notice of this matter: *‘The fraud and dangeer are more geueral than the great mass of the people will ruadily believe. It is asserted hat probavly one-half the vinegar sold at [New York] city wroceries is 2 rank poison, with sulpliuric or o:her objectionable acids for its base.” PICKLES. Now we will Jook after pickles. I find copied in the New York Wituess of Sepr.26, 1673, from the Atiercan Agricullurist, s statement to the effect that all bright green _pickles are made so by copper, indirectly used, by preparing them in er cauldrons, or directly by the Intentional use of verdigris. Un page 393 of the report of our State-Board of Health you will find that, out of twel samples of pickies, put up by as many wholesale dealers, ten were found, upon exumination, to contain copper, and nine of the samples showed th:at alum-had been used in the prepuration of the pickles. A fresn, Lright green colur is stated to be the indication ol the presence of copper, and Lhe report says that its presence may be confirmed by immersing iv the vinewar poured from the plekies o bit of clean polished steel, or o lknitting-needle, aud allowing it to stand for several hours. All the copper in the solutiou will then be found 45 a metailic coating on the steel, or, if the quantity be very small, the steel will bave a reddish tinge. In the re- port of the Massachusetts State Board of Health for 1874, paze 477, it is stated thut pickles are fujured by the use of sulphate of copper fu their prepuration. FLOUR. We will now glance at the adulterations of flour, 1 stated in my paper that four was adul- terated in England, ‘and probably iu this couu- try, with Dlaster-paris, bone-dust, sund, clay, chialk, and other articles. We turn to pase 103, of volume 4, of the 1874 edition ot Chambers® Encyclopreaia, and find that flour is adulter- ated uot untrequently with various substances, among which are alum, chalk, carponate of maguesia, bone-dust, plaster-oaris, clay, ete. We nexz look upou page 477 of the ) cliu- setts State Board of Health Report for 1874, and fina st edulterations have been made here with ground dai d'peas, alum, and kaolin, which Tacter is a finé, white decomuosed feldspar. ‘I'o what extent flour is adulterated in this coun- whether by manufacturer, seller, or wer, I have no personal knowledge, but I do think it is remarkable if there is any Englisn method of adulteration, out of which mouey can be made, that hasnot found its way to America, SPICES. Tn reard to spice adulteration 1 have found pothing more suggestive than the report of the Canadian Comnussioner of Inlund Revenue in refercnce to aualyses of various articles, which find copied in the BostonJournal of May 5, 18 Trom this I gather thut 180 articles were ao- alyzed, of which 93 were jound to. be aduiterated. Of zround doves, cinnamon, gin- and mustard examined, pot a sample proved To be pure. From 10 1015 per cent of the all- spice examined was found to be roasted pea- meal. Ground cloves were found to be exteuded with clove husks, woudy fibre, and roasted pea- Cinuawon proved to be composed of cassia husks.;Cocon contained Venetian red. Of the eamples of coffee tested, it was found that chiceory, roasted peas and besus comuosed the greater part: pure coffee occupying only a Tomiual position in the compound. ‘Tumeric and wheat tiour were the chief ingredients of mustard. PATENT MEDICINES AND BITTERS, In the report ot the Massachusetts State Board of - Health for 1872, page175,1 find a startiing _statement fn regard to the use of. opium. In the sovthing sirups usually given to children, and the various other anominable compounds which pass under the names of cougn sirups, pectorals, choleramedicines, pai Killers, ete., Itind that opium lorms importznt ingredient. With these and other facts ofa 1 nature in view 1thiok a public health association would finda wide field of usefulness in stopping the szle of these ‘dan- gerous compounds. 1 may also add in this con- neetion that among the various bitters and patent nostrums widely old in our markets there is a still more enlarzed field for the inves- tigations of our chemists, and such investiua tiuns could not fail to be of preat benefit to public pealth, 1am informed that- the active propertics of most uf tae bitters sold are de- by him at a meeting of the Unit rived from the quentity ol alcohol contained in wem. Hereis alsoa tield for temperance re- formers. SUGAR AND SIRUP. 1t appears to be an idea entertained by some that sugar is too cheap now-a-days to make it profitable to adulterate st. At least this is waat Mr. Sharples thinks. This may be so, but you can see ihat, with terrn alba at less than a cent a pound, it would pay to adulterate sugar with it, as well as with otlier miverai matters equally clicap, if not ebeaper. In an article on * Hard Times,” by Charles Wyllys Elliott, publisiied in the Gatazy magazine Tor April, 1577, pagedis, I fiad that stoneis ground into three grades,— soda grade, flour erade, and sugar erade,—and sells for about half a cent a pound. I hove heard of these stoue-wills being Jocated in Gif- ferent parts of the country, and that thousands of tous of stone have been ground in them eve vear for use in the work of aduiteration. Mr. Sharples sugeests that 1 bring him a pound of aduiteratedsugar for analysis, which he will make iree of charwe if tt is adulterated. It is said that Diogenes, some 2,000 years ago, went around fo the day-Ulme with a ligdted lantern v search of an homest man. I could find a good many honest men in Boston in half an hour, but’ if I should o to the cheap grocers for a pound of adulterated sugar for Mr. Sharples to unalyze, I fear I should have a task greater than it of Diozenes. The editor of one of our most ivflucntial Boston papers told me recently that one of our contec- tioners admitted to him that he used about 33 per cent of terra alba in his confectionery, In wny scrap-book I find a paragraph from the Washinzton J’ost of Dec. 4, 18i5, which informs me that it has been already proved that s Jarge majority of suears of cheap grades, sold in open market, were poisoned. Oae of the chief adulterations is glucose, an_ insipidly sweet product derived from corn, and worth from two to three cents 2 pound in the market. It readily assumes all the external appearances of sugar, but possesses no_nutritious qualities. 1t does mnot assimilate with the blood, und exercises a baneful eflect upon the kidneys. The frightful increase of mortality caused by Bright's discase of the kidoeys, which bas so sorely puzzled phy- siciaus, is now attributed to the increased con- sumption of glucose a3 an adulterant in sugar. The artcle gues on to show that, while the value of ~ gmlucose imported into _the United States in 1875 was §2,352, in 1877, or two_years thereafter, it had increased to $233,308. A carcful analyeis of 100 samples of suear, orocured at differeut stores throughout the City of New York, showed the presence of between 10 and 15 per cent of glucose uud kindred impurities. This statement refers only to the cheapest. grades of suzars. The obvious inference from this is that, while they are the most sdulterated, the poor wan’s sugars are the dearest in the market. . Sirups bave been found to contain o still Jarger proportion of glucose, ranging all the way froin 25 to 30 per cent of their total volume. The statement is also made that a suostastial chunk of tin, five inches in lengtn by three- fourths of an juch wide, bad been_previpitated in aeingle gallon of sirup. Another insidious poison employed for bleaching low grades of sugars is muriate of tin, aud its effects are scen in what physicians call a new class of diseases. Noless than thirteen uid conservative houses in New York Cityn the sugar trade have been compelled to suspena business on account of the methods of adulteration employed by less scrupulons houses in “the suear_trade. [ find in the Advertiser of Nov. 4, 1878, an extract from an article in the New York Worid, which begins in this way: * Yes, said 2 well-known chemist to a Word reporter, people will have tin-lined stomachs beforelong. Then the chem- 15t went to 2 closet and rook therefrom several small bottles. Ile exnidited several shects of tin which had becn extracted from sugar pur- chased from extensive dealers in the city [New Yorkl. This, said the chemist, 15 what thcy use in the adulteration of sugar, aud I am told that some of the sugar dealers buy tin by the ton. Thfs tin bas been cup, with_muriatic acid, and was used in sygars and Sirups. brom‘_’atugg per cent of p:l‘LF:o s als0 used in suzars and 75 per cent in sirups. . Poor starch und flour are also used by some of " those sugar dealers, and I am told that such adulterated sutars produce skin diseases.” In the - Hebrew Leuder of Sept. 20, 1575, published in New York, there is an article with - the heading of * Arsenic in Tood,” in which I find, amoug other things, that frlucose is produced by the action of ‘sulphuric acid on stareh, and tiat much of that acid io use ‘was made from arsenical pyrites. In the New York Bee-Keepers' Magazine for August, 1875, there is published a petition to Congress from the Protective Association awainst the adulteration of sweets. In that document it is stated that the sweets now use' in the Unitea -States, including |cane sugar, maple sugar, Sirups, candies, jellies, honeys, etc., are- oiten adulterated with! zlu- cose; and _sometimes manufactured entirely of ‘that "this glucose is wanufactured irom corn-starch by boiling _the starch with sulphuric acld’ (oil of vitriol), and then beingz mixed with Jime. The glucose alwavs retains more or less of the sulphuric acid aud lime, and sometimes it bas been known to con- tain copperas, sulphate of lime, ete., ete. be article goes on to state that seventeen Spec mens of common tadle sirups were recently ex- amined by R. C. Kedzie, 4. M., l’rorussogoi Chemistry in the Michizan Agricultural Col- lege, and that fifteen of these proved to be made of giucose. One of the fifteen samples contained 141 ¢rrains of sulpburle acid (ofl of vitriol) and 724 graios of lime to the gallon, and another which had caused scrious sickness in a whole fawily, contained seventy-two grains of sulphate of fron (copperas) and 363 grains of lime to the wallon. I would say here that Mr. Kedzie is President of the Michizan State Board of Health, and probably no autbority in the ‘West is more eminent on matters of avalysis than he is. 1 reccived last night from the Secretary of the Michizan State Board of Tiealth a revort of the meetine of that Board on the 14th of this month, in which Dr. Kedzie made a report on thie aduiteration of sugars. ie explains in this report_the methods of coloring suzars Ly the use of poisonous materials, uud also of adulterating sugars and loney by the use of glucose. Dr. Keuzie had analyzed various samples of sugars and sirups which had been exposed for sale tbroughout Michigan, und had found them geperally adulterated. The pure white granulated suzar, bie says, thutis not sticky, but flows freely like sand, is generally pure. The A colfee sugar often, and tne B and C coffce .sugars almose always, contain tin sults. The Grangerstore in Kent County, Mich., sent a sample of sirup for analysis, which was found to contain cousiderable lime and cop- perns. Asa general thing, cheap sugars, how- cver clear they mizhi appéar, were adulteraied. Jn the Massachusetts State Board of Health Revort for 1674, on page 477, the names of sume of 1he adulterauts of sugar will be found. ‘The evidence of Dr. Kedzic aud others seems to fully Fuiler, of New which was made of Trade, held fn New York Ci This ‘was to the effect that suzars, molasses, and honey were now so geuerally adulterated that, althoush very fond of those articles, he dlid not dare Lo use thew except insimall quanti- tles. CONTECTIONERY. Now, we will Jook into the matter of the adulteration of confectionery for a ‘moment, and by way of a wind-up to this interview. Of course, the readers of the fera'd have not for- potten the cases of prosecation of confectioners in Boston, not very long ago, by the City Board of Meaith, for adulteration of” their products. T these prosecutions it wus clearly shown that yellow lozenses and contectiouery were given their coior by the addition of clrowate of lead. In the rrials that ensued a chewnist testitied that ao analysis of some of the candies in question stowed the presence of three grawns of curomate of lead to each pound of candy, und that one- fifth of a grain of such chromate of lead bud proved fatal to a . child who had_eal it. Nouw Jet_us glance at whaat the Massachusetts State Buard of [Tealth savs in regurd to this subject. In the report of 1673, pages 12 and 13, it is_stated that the oil of al monds used by confectioners coutains prussic acids that almost all the candies, and many of the sodu-sirups, bearing the uawe of perishable fruits, have no trace of froit about them, but are flavored by fruit-essences, which are deleteri- ous ethereal extracts made in the chemical laboratory. Many ‘of the iruitdellies in_the market are made from apples, and flavored by the same artificial essences to resemble the vari- ous fruits from which they are supposed to be made. Onpagel5 of this report itis stated that lead, mercury, arsenic, and copper are not infrequently found in the coloring-matter of confectionery, and especially of suzar-toys. In the report of 1574, page 477, L find that confec- tlonery is adulterated with aml poisoned by arsenic, sulphate of copper, prussic acid, tartaric aeid, and fusel-oil, and, on’ page 473, I flud nu- merous cases of poisoning by ice-cream and confectionéry cited 1n the report referred to. WALL-PAPER. «In the issue of the Lilot of Junt 1, 1878, Lfind this statement in the editorial columus: * Only about 15 per cent of the wall-paper manutac- tured do not contain arsenic, mud o ove but a chemist can di r or not such paper is dungerous. The ouly way to be quite sure is to eschew paper altogéther, and get your walls painted. It will surprise many to know that a house may bave all its walls aud eellioes painted and handsomely frescoed lor less expense than it would take to paper them. A painted wall can’ be washed. It is more beautiful, more healthful, more durable than paper.” And the articte adds; ** Yet, for one house painted and frescoed, there are thousands lined with pgison- ous wall-paper.” Now, why Is it? 1 stated in my paper that, in.a sfogle year, there was im- ported into this country 2,827,742 pounds of arsenie, and that {t is_sold at a wholesale price of from one and a half to two cents » pound, und that each pound contains n fatal dose for about 2,800 adult bhuman beings. In making wall-papers, it is cheaper to wuse arsenic than any other article to get the desired colors. In the Massachusetts State Board of Health Re- port_for 1872, there are twenty-five pazes de- voted to the subjoct of polsonous wall-papers, and the cases of sickness they have oceasioned. ¢ the subject is begun, I find “Asa resuit of un- equivocal warnings published by physicians in pust years, the use of arsenical paver hangings beeame for o time, and iv some degree, up- fashionable; but the dictates of Tashion are ca- pricious. and are not long windful of the pro- tests ot scieuce. The public has forzotten the experience of ten years a2o, and the poisonous aper-hangings are displaved in the shops to- day with the same fascinations of colors, de- sign, and finish, that bave charscterized them in tie past. In every store whicl the writer has visited, in the course of Uese_investigations, specimens of the paper have becn obtained, which, on being tested, exhibited the presence of the arsenical pigment in a greater or less degree.” On paged6 I find that Prof. Bacon asserts that “frequently as much as fifty or sixty grains of the arsenical pigment is spread on each square foot of the pancr.” On page 87 the same writer states that, taking the average re- sults obtained by analysis, a room of ordinary dimensions, decorated with arsenical paper- hangings, would hold on its walls considerably more than 2 pound of poisonous ' coloring mat- ter, containing half its bt of arsenic. In the Boston Medical and Surgical Journal of May 11, 1876, there is_an article on arsenical paper-hangings by Dr. Francis H. Brown, then surgeon to the Children’s Hospital of this city, but now of _the United States Marine Hospital, Chelsea. He grives in this article cases of ar- senical poisonipg from wall-papers which oc- curred in bis pi ce in® one year, in one of which were also included the death of two canarv-birds that showed symptoms of having been poisoned-by the arsenic of the paper-hane- ings. On page 530 of the number of the jovrnal above. quoted from, Dr. Brown gives, from the DBritih~ Medica! Journal of July 22, 1871, the symptoms of arsenical poisoning: Irritation of . the mucous membrane, causing diarrhea and vomiting; gastric derangement, resulting in permanent indizestion; incessant severe cold in the bead, which in one Instance lasted severai 3 ulcerated throat, with acute inflamma- tion, resulting in diphtheria and quinsy; brou-.| chitis and congestion of the lungs; soreness of the mouth, lips, and tonzue, which appear as if scalded in patches; inflammation of the eyes and eyelids; coneestion and torpidity of the liver; " severe. bilious and feverish attacks,—in short, irriration of every organ. In many cases, if not in all, the action of the heart was .weakened, and in some palpitation frequentiy occurred. There were pains in various parts of the body, especially across the shoulders, and down the spine and limbs; also in the joints, which were often stiff and swollen; scaling of the skin and irritating eruntions. “The effects upon the nervous system Were most remark- able, producine a thoroughly shattered condi- tion, great irritability, deoression, and tendency 10 tears, With unusual prosiration of strength. The list also includes giddiness, headache, acute carache, nearaleia, bleeding at the nose, Jrizhtful dreams, bysterical faintness, cramps, rigor, oumbuess of the lmbs, rizid spasms, and convulsious. The last symptoms devel- oped in the worat cases were loss of memory gnd threatenings of pdralysis: also spasms, with twitching of the body and licbs. In con- clading, Dr. Brown eays on- page 535 of the i $ 3 v known Medica! Journal: * 1t i§ less generall ihat the presence of arsenic is not confl_nc‘dct‘ri ereen pavers alone, and L show you this v ine a number of} specimens of wull paper O us hues, which may Le looked on a3 fnuocent in thelr outward appear ance, but which I have proved Y analysis to contain _arsenic in co .r»_idcrgplc e tar” Tn the Advertser of May 25, 1873, I find a communication on the subject of poisou- ous wall papets. ‘Lhe writer states: “_I find in this montl’s Boston Journal of' Chemistry that the mauufacture of these poisonous pap increasing. - 1 find in the New York_Fitness of April 4 that feceat analysis bavo shown that many of the pale colors, and eyen white, con- tain more arsenic than the brightest greens. 1n a recent lecture before the Chemists’ and Drugs gists’ A tion, the lecturer stated that of sixty specimens of different papers of various colors—blue, red, pink, brown, and other colors —aualyzed by him, only ten were ‘harmless, the others coptaining arsenic.” Oun page 163 of my “poison serap boolk,” as I may cailit, L find that the lecture referred to was delivered before. thi Manchester (England) Chemists’ and Dguggists Association, by Mr. Sicbold. I now produce a book of arsenical wall-papers, fifteen inchies long by nine inchies-broud. It was issued by the Michigan State Bourd of Health in Sepiember, 1574, and by order of the Board piaced in every important library in the State. It contains seventy-five representative specimens of poisonous walil-papers, und on the cover is a specimen of very poisonous green- glazed paper, such as 15 often used to cover paper boxes with. At the same time [ would not by this give the impression that otber shads auik colors of fancy papers do not contain ursenic also, for they afeen do. This book is very antly entitled * Shadows from the Walls of Death,” and it can Le geen’ at my office any day ol this or next week, between the hours of and 9:30 o'clock p. m. 1t was prepared by Dr. R, C. Kedzie, Professor of Chemistry in the Michigan State Acricnltural Colleze, ‘President of the Michigan State Board of Health, aud Chairman of the Committee on Poispns. in, SUMMING-UP. How anything or anybody, short of Omnis- clence, can kuow the latest of our adulrerations of foods, liquors, and other things, and the vari- ous articles thut are used for purposes of auul- teration, is more than I can comprehend. Prob- ably ail the chemists in the United States never analyzed one package in 100.000 of any article commonly und widely sold inthis country. And 1 those they do analyze they are always liohle to be deceived by such pretenses as Dr. Mott dis- covered in New York in his investigzation of baking powders, , that sample cans of a pure article Were given away to all _dealers for the purpose of being analyzed. 1t is only isolated cases here and there which are ever brought to public notice, because thus far it has been nobody’s business to find out the extent to which adulteratious are carried. It is not necessary to show that adulterations have been practiced in Boston to how that precautions should be taken azainse them in Ioston. We bhave in our market articles from all parts of the world. If arsenic has been put fnto candies in France, or red leaa into curry-powder in Eugland, or arsenic {nto toilet-powders both here and in England, or poisonous tinware is widely sold in Philadelphiz and Michizan—then it fs time for somebody to find out iwhether these articles are sold here. When it is shown that one-half the vinegar sold in New York City is rank poison, because, as the Washington Board of Health says, five cents worth of oil of vitriol will make a barrel of it, then it is time that everybody should find out about it here. When it is shown that out of 180 articles of the spice kind analyzed 1 Canuda 93 were adulterated, and of severa! kinds not a sample was found pure, and Dr. Mott finds, in New York City, alum in every onc of the sixteen baking-powders he analvzed (alam being three cents a pound snd eream of turtar 30 cents), nnd a large Boston manufac- turer of spices, powders, grocery supolics, ete., acknowledges that he bas tilied orders for the West for, cream of tartar that contained terra alba,—then it is time for us to be sure that we arc pot using the same aruicles in Boston. When we know that a well-known and reliable chemist and physician of this city has found milk in one fostance adulterated with calves’ braios, that establishes, bevond all dispute, the fuct that the thing ean be, has been, and may be done.. When the Michigan State Board of Health publishes a book cuntaining sevenuv-five specimens of polsonous wall-papers, aud puts 1t into every important library in the State, aund savs that they are simply representative speci- mens of articles sold in every city and town ot Michigan, and warng the people of that State not to buy them, then it is time to inquire whether it is not best to warn: the people of Massachusetts against the use of such papers. When we show that last year‘ 93,000,000 pounds of oleomargarine butler was munu- factured _in this country, and a vast amount of olecomargarine cheese; that these articles . capuot be detected in «the market; that in them have been found else- where horse-fut, fat from bones, and fat usual- Iy, used to made candles; that an cmincnt microscopist of New York City says that they are not subjected to suflicient heat to Kill the parasites that enter and breed in human bodie: and that he has reason to believe thut the re use fat of avleast one pork-packing establish- ment in New York City is used at one of the oleomargarine factories in thut city, and that he finds m oleomargurine tissues of animals and suspicions framments and cells, and thinks the article dangerous for table use,—then it is time to look out that none of this New York olco- maryarine gots into Boston, When it is shown that sugars and sirups _are larzely adulterated in New York City with glucose and tin and other adulterants, and that glucose is manufac- turei by a provess which incorporates wich it oil of witrol and other dcleterious substances; and that in Michigan, out of seventeen table-sirups analyzed, fifteen were found to be made of glucose; that a single gallon of one of them contained 141 zrains of oil of viiriol and 24 arains of lime, then, it scems to me, we _should e on the lookout for these articles in Boston. 1t our sugars manufactured hereareall pure, our oleomargarine of the best, our vinegur all froma highwioes and eider, our - beers and ales all they purport to be, our tinware all safe, our kerosene oil all legal, our baking pow- ders all good, our wines and spirituous liquors all unadulterated or unmixed, and every one of our hair restorers and wall pavers free from ev- ery dangerous ingredient, still L say there is con- stant need of s Jive, active association in this city to keep out the poisonously adulterated articleswhich are constantly liable to bebronght Dbere from other places. I say that no such an association, supported by our houest merchants and citizens, can largely protect them from the frauds and underselling of unprincipled adul- teraters here and everywhere, and give thens o reputation that would be worth wmillions to the trade of the City of Boston. Let that associa- tion have, like the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, its rooms, and offices con- staotly watcbing to protect the public health; arresting every man that ousht to be arrested, stopoing every business adulteration that ought to be stopped, pablishing in every Boston paver every fact that oucht to be, published, giving strength to our Stated Board of Health and our City Board of Health, heiping them with the State Government and the City Government, . when they might need help—an association which, without fear or favor, shall be able and ready to euforce every law that ousht to be enforced in the in- terest of pubiic health, and shall stand for the protection of the men, women, and children of this city the State, as the Societs 1 have before named stands for the protection of dumb beasts. ‘That is what [ want, and it would bencfit almqs everv man, woman, and child in Massachusetts, ept, perhaps, those who mizht wish 1o erow rich by poisoning and defrauding their follow- citizens. A PROPOSED ACT TO PUNISK THE ADULTERA- TION OF FOOD. Xew Fork Times. Dr. E. R. Squibb read an interesting paper before: the State Medical Society, at Alvany, yesterday (Feb. 5), on the subject of food adut- terations. ‘The paper contains the rough draft of a prooosed law to prevent the adulteration of lood and medicine, and to create a State Bogrd of Health. This draft is the result of a thoronsh consideration of the subject by 3 joint committee of the New York Academy of Medi- cine, the New York Academy of Science, the Couaty Medical Society, the Therapeutical So- cicty, the New York College of Pharmacy, the Medico-Leeal Soclety, the Public Health "Asso- clation, and otlier learned hodies. Dr, Squibb, fn his paper, sets forth that the working of “the Enelish “Sale of Food and Drugs act” of 1575 has proved that alaw to prevent adulterations must carefully avoid cer- tain ditliculties which are_sure to be met with. In the first place, the offense of adulteration must be simply and distinetly detined in oll its forms. This is essential in order that the of- fender may clearly understand when and how he is transgressing the law. Consequently, Dr. Squibb would avoid general definitions requir- inyr to be interpreted by test cases, and would make his terms so specific as to make - doubt or inadvertence fmpossible, thus economizing the time of courts and Jaw-officers, and leaving to them, in the main, only the decision of questions respecting the turoitude and acgree of the of- fense and the extent and nature of the penalty. He thinks that such definingclauses would have a strong tendency to deter producers from adulteration. In the second place, the ‘questions’ of intent to defraud and of prejudice or injury to the consumer of adulterated articles have been carefully avoided, such intent being alwavs Qifii: cult to prove even when it really exists; while in very many of the aduiterations practiced there i3 no conscious attempt at fraud, nor any design to 1wjure the health of consumers. It papers s | has hence been decided by the scientific com munizies that the offense “shall consist in the adulteration of the article and the proof by the . analysis of the debased article itsell. '} e plea of absence of intent, or of the harmless nature of the.adulteration, may, under such a law, in- flucnce the court in defermning the nature or Geare of the penaity to be imposed, but can- not affcet the question of conviction ou the m]:%i: Squibb reviews the question of whose duty. it shall be to prosecute for offenses or_to ake the initiative.in such prosecutious. The * firat and most obvious method of procedure—to ! jmpose that duty upon the consumer who is injured, and to use the inspectors and experts simply as witnesses for the prosecution—he re- jeets on the ground that experience has shown i consumers will not ive tinie, money, or trouble { to such prosecutions except 1n cases where a flagrant and somewhat immediate injury to life or health has resuited from the cousumption. Tt has been found equally ineffective to invest ! jnstitutions and societies with the duty of prose- cuting, giving them the hr}z_quml otuer emolu- ments in compensation. This difliculty of pro- curine action in such cases bas led all who bave examined the ‘subject to the conclusion that such a law, in order to be reasonably effective, must embrace within itself all that i8 essential to its exceution. 'This requirement Dr. Squibb finds in the creation of a State Board of Health juvestea with certain powers and duties, io justify the proposal of sucha Board on the score of expensc, it is estimated that the loss to the population of this State is $700,000 per anouim, or 14 cents per capita, while un institution such as the act contemplates would cost $5U0,000 per anpum. 3 The law defines “*food ” as embracing every article used for food and driuk or the food and drink of man and animals, while the term “medicine " is held to Include every other arti- cle used for the preservation of health or the relief and cure of discase in man anfuwals, em- bracing antiseptics, distnfectants, and cosmetles. The diflcult question of establishing 4 stand- ard of purity 15 disposed of by Ds. Squibb in a very senstble and satistactory manuer, Divid- ing articles of food into two classes, simple and compound; the standard for simples is fixed at the average _quality of the substances in their natural condition (when so used), or after prep- aration by drying, grindivg, packing, ete., with- out damage, according to the best methods, and without the admixture of forcien substances beyond what is cssentfal—as salt ia meat—to thelr preservation in a wholesome state. The standard for compound articles is fixed by the publicly-known formulas, accordiog to which they shiould be comvounded, or the labels or descriptions fixed to the compounds as sold or offered. Curiously enough, it is easier to estab- lish a standara respecting ‘simple articles of medicive, for here the * United States Pharma- copwia’? may be adopted as a guide or busis, and all controversy evaded as regurds articles of home production. When not embraced withi the ** Pharmacopeia,” the statement of some commonly-accepted standard of authority is to decide respectiog the purity of the article. It the simples are pure, the contpound must be pure; and hence the formuls, recipe, or 1abel is here held to be conclusive s to the com- pound it calls for. In patent medicines, the tes- timony of the owner’s private formulas is con- clusive, provided always that no compound shall contain any poisonous or hurtiul ingredient not specified on the label, a paking-powder contain- iug alum, or a cosmetic containg lead—neither. being stated upon the label of the compound: subjecting the seller to all the penaltics of will- _ful adulteration. A patent medicine containing any such deleterious or toxie ingredient mot plainly shown on the label, subjects the proprie- tor to prosecution and penalty. The offense of adulteration in articles of food is defined to con- sist, first, in udding one or more substances to another, as corn-meal in flcur, whereby the strength; purity, quality, or value of the sub- stance is reduced, with the effect of tending to deceive the public; secondly, as in artiicial wines or mustard, in the substitution of one substance for another: thirdly, as in skim milk or partly exhausted tes, collee, or drugs, in the ‘abstraction of any part of the substance with the effect to reduce its value; fourthly, as oleo- margarine for butter, in the application of a name belonging to one substance to another substance, thus tending to deceive the consum- ud, lifthly, in the presence in any substance mpurity or foreizn matter, ¢icier natural or accidental, if in unusual proportion, as dirt in food or medicine, and metallic saltsin canned goods. 'The admixture of different qualities, as damaged wheat in tlour, or garden rhubarb in medicinal rhubaro, is set down as adulteration. Dilution of any kind, as water in milk, the ad- dition of coloring, coating, or polishing matter, ete., ure also defined as adulterations. . KID GLOVES. Statement of the A, T. Stewart House, New York Commerciat Bulletin, Feb. 4. The following statement may more fully ex- plain the connection of Messrs. A. T. Stewart & Co. with the rccent kid-glove reappraisements: The * Alexandre” gloves manufactured by the firm of Messrs. Ch. Fortin &_Co., Paris, which firm is composed of Mr. Fortin, wno represents more_especlally the * Alexandre glove, and Mr. Courvaisier, who represents the * Courvoisier " glove; the latter make is con- signed under the * Courvoisier ”” brand to their London firm of Georre Hooper, Courvoisier & Jo., and to Messrs. Luckmeyer, Kunoth & Co., of this city. The * Alexandre” glove is ecxported by Messrs. Fortin & Co. trom Paris to New York aud consigued to A. T. Stewart & Co., under contract made by Mr. Stewart in behull of his house in 1873, wi contract is now 1 force, binding the manufacturers to invoice the zloves at a fair market value, and to protect this fair market value, as gstablished by them, gave to A, T. Stewart & Co. the option to take to their own account all 2oods at Invoiced pricés at which they were con: When the receot udvance of prices by the Ap- praiser’s Department was made on zioves of similar value, say the * Trefousse ¥ and * Peri- not” make, and kuowing that, in tarn, this ad- vance would probably reach’ the invoices of Fortin & Co., A. T. Stewart & Co. requested, and have from time to time received, the testi- mony which hus been produced and viaced be- fore the different reappraisements durine the past year, and which has becn the basis of the action taken by A. T. Stewart & Co. to sustain the turoice or market value, on benalf of Fortin & Co., at which these gloves were consivued. Messrs. Fortin & Co. have uot_hesitated to mive every detail of information of the cust of production, winch has_been verified by state- ments frum. quitc all the other iweli-known makers in I'rance, and in maoy instances this verification hus been substantiuted by sworn atli- davits. G In further verification of the correctness of their action and honesty of purpose, by the con- sent of A, T. Stewart & Co., to whom their en- tire production was engaged on cousignment, Fortin & Co, have for the past six mounth: vpened the sale of these goods to the mariets of the world in the Paris market, in lots of huu- dreds of thousands of dozens, as would suit the requiremnts of buyers, at 42 francs for ladies’ two-button gloves, or at the prices at which they are consizned, and at these prices deale ave availed themsclves of this offer, and sales have been effected whenever purchasers deewed it for their interest to make thew. Amonyg the first reappraisemonts was one of the ** Jouvin 7 glove, which Mr. J. . Dunbam, of Messrs. Dunnham, Buckley & Co., acted a3 Merchant :‘.?prmur, and sustained the invoive price of 42 francs per dozes; iater re- apprmsements were held on the ** Tre. fousse,” *‘ Perinot,” and * Alexandre giove, when Mr. J. M. Coustable, of Messrs. Arnold, Cobstable’ & Co., was the BMer chant Appraiser i “Trefonsse ¥ glove; Mr. J. H. Duoham, of Messrs. Dunham, Buck: ley & Co., was again o Merchaut_Appraiser on the “Perinot” glove, and Mr. Hugh Auchin- closs, of Messrs. Auchincloss Bros., was the Merchant Appraiser on the ** Alexandre? glove, whn, after 4 most exbaustive examination of the'question of value, with all the evidence taken in all the cases betore them, they unani- mously decided that the ploves were invoiced at a fair market value, und sustaived the invoices. In the later reappraisements of the ‘* Alexan- dre ” glove, which are now under discussion, no new evidence on bebalf of the Government. 'has been produced that would be accepted in any court of jusi ; notwithstanding the fact the two merchants acting in the last reaopraisement Lave differed from the previous Merchant Ap- praisers above noted, and advanced the invoice value frum 4210 46 and 47 fraucs, respectively, for the ludies’ two-button gloves. 4 _'The merchants claim, according to the visions of the Treasury regulations Sc:. 53 g? of April 30, 1877, wlierein it says: *In cases where the manufacturer ships sll his goods to the United States on consizument for sale, and the market value cannot be ascertained by the methods before indicated, it should be ficed by reference u;iuu.» market value of the componeut materials ofjthe goods at the time znd plade of manufacture, with the expense of mmmu!agtbu?e and a fair menufacturer’s profit added; and’ the appraised valuc in such cases cannot be less :hm} the cost and profit so ascertuned,” that they bave ‘clearly proved the invoice value scovers the!cost of manufacture and a fair manufacturer’s profit added, besides a further marzin of profit to_cover any contingent ex- pense not embraced in speciel items of cost that can be clearly identitied. ‘They prove the: 5 Tome P cost of manufacture 3s fol- | Francs. One dozen skins cos 3 Oue dozex tanned skins produce an average - coully asled him of twentv-two pairs ladies’ tiwo-button rloves which makes the cost ol J Leather for one dozen gloves TDFEINE.ee on sen - (_,'num*.'. . o Faatening and Guishing. profit. Total.. Ten per cent Total . 38.63 Thege goods being invoiced at £2 francs less § per cent discount, or franes 30.48 net, leaves 83 centimes, some 241 per cent over the above-men, tioned proit, to %0 for interest or other contip, gent expense. oW, 33 money Bas commande] but a'low rate of interest tie past yearin Ey. rope, the above allowance wonld bé auipie tg cover the interest ou capital for the short time of producine the goods trom the purchase of Lhislruw is}:l b ~Here it may be proper to remark that h reduced value of skins durinz the fx’i‘?gfi months of 1573, 43 nroven, it would be equitabls to reduce the foreguing estimate of the many. facturer’s cost by at least 5 per cent. This bagiy of cost has beea clearly proved by nuwerges w itnesses, represeuting ull the pricipal m,fi ers, from cvidence actually taken from thej books, substantiated in_many cases by sworg statements. The variation of cost from um: fizures by the different makers has been pyg trifling, say within 1 franc per dozen. To shoy that this invoice price of 42 frane: :sents 3 tair market value in the country Wisre thesy gouds are produced. we will follow the consiyn. ment to this country, where the goods are s to sec what profit Fesults to the consiguor. 13 is as follow St Per dos, The goods sre sold at.. 16,00 Lows trade discounts 10 per eent aflowed vo- DUYEDS v oo vaomenrnree oo oee .. 180 Cash discount G per cent do..... St Averuge depreciation of stock, §per ::l:m....sl i%.z Tntersst carrying stock, 3 per cent.... ......s“'f;'; Usual commission pald on forelen accoaats, - 10 per cent.. g L 133 S12.50 This is the net amount realized for onz dozen of gloves whicn cost lunded, with all expenses of freignt, insurance, dutivs, ete., SiLT6 per dozsn, thus leaving 2 margin of profit of bat 6 per cent against the risks of one of the mogty precarious and fickle articles known to the trade. “I'he correctness of this calealation is proved by the actual transactions of one of the consignees in the cases under considera. tion of the business for the years 186 amd 1877, amounting to onc and & quarter million dJollars, on which the return was ooly 53 per cent, not being enouzh to vay the ususl com- mission by nearly 5 per cent, which commission was not included in the returns of expenses for selling. To prove still further the correctness of tai jon, the entire tracsaction of this same coye signec in conuection with this article for the ive years 1573 to 1877, inclusive, awgregating e’ Tiveen $4,000,000 and $3,000,000, bused upon the same relative estimate of cost, was a net return of an average profit of 8 per cent, which is 3 per ceut than the usual commission paid on sales of forcign goods, and wiica commission of 10 per cent was not included in theretura of expenses for selling. Inanswer to the pretensions of the custom authorities that these zoodsare worth 40 franes, the price realized in selling, as previouslgshow, proves that the basiness would bedoneat aloss. ‘Thus, u value was 49 francs they would cost landed, with all expenses of duttes, etc., $13.72, for which at the price at whithihey o are sold in this market only $12.50 is rei And as a furtherillustration, if the foreignvlue 15 52 francs they would cost landed S143, for whicn, as previously stated, only $12.30isreal- ized, thus showing at these propused advanced juvoice prices the importations would bepro- hibited and the business in the axticle would ba destroyed. 1t may be further stated that these goodswers offered to be sold to buyers in any quantitlesat the invoice prices, but Which offer was embraced by buvers to the extentof onlyaboutli dozens, und mnotwithstanding the articlehss been pressed upon public attention, the sales have not been increased bevond the abovequas- tity. This offer has remained for six montls open to this date to the entire trade a iuveks prices of 42 Irancs, and io any quantity. 1t is claimed by special azents, on behalf of the Government, that similar g0ods are sold to the London market at 32 francs. To this the in- porter replies that it has been proven on thers appraisements thas the article sold to the Lon- don market is made from the choicest selection of skius, ordered in lots of small quantities with great details of assortment, which very much cubauces the cost of production, say atleast some 10 or 12 francs per dozen, in proof of which one of the largest makers in Fragee, who manufactures as larzely for England asfor America, stated that, owing to the immense de- tail of London orders, he would prefer to mak Zoods tor America at 40 francs per dozeninlarzs lots, as usually ordered, thao to execute ordets as given for the London market at G0 fraucs pec dozen. N 1t is also claimed by soceial agents, on behall of the Government, that many London mer- chants estimated the value of these roods at 32 franes; if this is so, it is perfectly incomprenen sible, when they bave been frecly otfered in Paris, as it bad been proven they huve been, 3¢ the invoice prices of 42 francs, that these Lon- don merchants have cot bought the goods snd realized thie enormous prutit of 25 per centy which could 50 easily be done by the simple trouble of taking the goods across the British Channel, and thé investment of their capital in a trapsaction which is complete in the shoré time of Hiteen days. * e e—————— THE DOVE. x A dore flew to my window, And peezed through the shining pase, Cootng Lo meurnful canence Asal but sweet relrain. It vamiy neck'd and fluttered *Guinst the wall of giassy sheen. And fain would enter my chamber. A8 1wito u world uuseen. 5% Perhaps [t bore some message From loved ones far away, 1 Some token of peace and vladness - ; To cneer the weary day. : Upon which | opened the casement “fo welcome the feathered guest—, But, start.cd. it fiew from my preseflce, .- As one with fear oppressed, 5 Epwanp EDGERTOM. Parz Prace, RocnEscern, ditnit ——— A TOAST. s Here's a hand in pure friendship, and may it cons tinue To bless us with joy and with peaceful communion; May our hearts be inspired Ly unselish devotion, And boand by the strou:s bond of brotaerly unton- Moy no coldness inweave in the soul’s warm affec t But muuhopd's esteem, still nzenaous and fre¢, Pour 1ts il on the waters of strife and contentios, Winle tussed by the oitlows ou Life's stormy se. ¥ D. Dici M. —_— Tlow Melssonier Received the Accolade. Meissonier had been nominated Enizat of the ct1on of Honor, und, as he was 4 protege of e de Cailleux, the artist was to receve the in- siguia trow the hands of the laiter in persos- Out of cousideration for Meissonier’s lazy Lubits the Dircetor of the museums appoiuted thelate hour of 7 a. . for the ceremony of i vestment. Somenow Melssonfer vversiept hiu- self day after day, but at leneth paid some 002 o et bim out ol bed and in a flacre by the a0- pointed hour. When he reached the Louvre M e Cartleux was in nis szudy attred fu notbiog you are?” be sl it takes time to sonier apolomzed. * Evougly said M. de Cuilieux; then ringing, he Ws3 apswered imunedintely by a servaot. *+Jobny e contiuued, turning to the atceudant, *bring me wmy coat and sword.” Jobn wid 25 desi aud helped his master on with the two artietes, reeardiess of M. de Cailleux’s singalar espect witk pautaloons. ©Ap b, sir,” ordered the oflial, und M. de Massouier aid as desired- When three gentle taps bud been applied to the recipient’s back, a_smack wiven to ms shoulder and & Iraternat Kiss printed ou his cheek, M- 4 Caulleux took his cost und sword off and sa¢ quickiy down to bis writing ugain. The ceres wony “bas remuined vividly stamoed on the artist’s memory, snd from his lips very Ppro bly did M. de Perrin hear the story. ———— A Royal TRebafl. 5 Kinz Leopoldjof Belzium on® New-Yeard Eve;j paid a visit to the venerable Prince de Ligne, President of the Seuate, in order Lo W him o Happy New-Year. Waen the King, inst unpreteading cirriaze, arrived at the rroce’s door the evening was somewhat advanced, uit the only sercant at hand to receive him was 2 blunt und eccentric retainer who had been sUme balf a century fn the Prince's seryice. ‘the ol fellow, who failed to recomnize nis soverelZls * Do you tuink this 2 proptt time to come and see a person in my imasters position?”? il The King took the rebul very philosophically, and drove away without at~ tempting to mortify the ancient Cerberus vy opening his eyes to'his awkard mistake