226 THE ANALYST. LAW REPORTS. To THE PKFJUDICE OF THE PUHCHASER.-A remarkable prosecution, under the provision s of the Sale of Food Act, bas been decided a t Southampton. Mr. TIT. Gibbons, of Xetlty, was summoncc! for sclling a&lterntcd rum, to the prejudice of the purchaser. A police constable named Palner said he boiigiit a pint and a quarter of the rum. Examined by the counsel for the defendant, he said he bought the rum for himself, but did not taste it, nor had he done so since.For the defendant i t was urged that the information wac? wrong, inasmuch as it alleged distinctly that the witness was prejudiced by the mle, whereas zccordin): to his ovn admission he could not be prejudiced bccause he had never tasted the rum a t alJ. Being aslied, the witness said he did no1 know how he was “prejudiced” by purclming the rum.Ile knew, howevcr, that the rum was not good. Mr. Stannard prored the forwarding of rl. Fample of spirits to Rlr. Angcll, the county analyst, whc had since forwarded him a certificate showing that whilst genuine rum was sold from proof to 12 per cent. under, the rum in question had been reduced by the addition of water to 19.5 under proof.For the defendant it was submitted that he had been summoned under the wrong clause in the Act, viz., section 6, which applied to a private purchaser, instead of section 13, which applied to the purchase by an inspector in his official capacity. Clearly the actual purchaser in this cass hnd not been, in the words of the summons, prejudiced, and i t was submitted, therefore, that there was no case.Thc Bench said tbcy believed the water had been added to the rum according to the custom prevalent, a t any rate in that neighbourhcod, acd t o accommodate the purchaser by selling the spirit at a reduced price. They could not come to the conclusion that any fraud had been committed against the purchaser. and therefore dismissed the case.- Grocer.ADULTERATION OF BEER AT PEciiH.nr.-At Lmbeth Police-court, on Friday, 1st. u k , Omen Hastery beer-house retailer, late of the George, St. George’s road, Peckham, was summoned by the Vestry of Camberwell for selling beer which was not of the nature, substance, and quality of the article demanded. blr. Marsden, the vestry clerk prosccutcd, and Mr. JJlley defended. Mr.Marsden said the case was one of considerable public importance, and he proposed to call Dr. Bernays, Professor of Chemistry, who had given rl. ccrtificate that the beer in question was adulterated to the extent of 96 grains per gallon. Mr. Lilley denied that any salt had been put into the porter. Tlic defendant had been obliged to leave the house, and had lost €140 by the place.What he had done was to use liquorice and sugar, in order to satisfy the tastc of his customcrs. Dr. Bernays, in his evidence, said there was salt in sugar, which might now account for the statement made by Mr. Lilley, and the mcre common the sugar the more the salt. The beer in this and other cases promoted instead of quenching thirst. Mr. Ellison said the case had been much altered by the evidence of Dr.Bernays that sugar contcined salt, or he should have inflicted the highest penaity, l l e imposed a finc of 20s. arid 12s. 6d. costa.THE ANALYST. 227 HEAVY PENALTIES FOR MILK ADTJLTERAT~~N.-A t Southport, W illiarn Wright, a farmer, of Crossens, was fined 2.10 and costs for having sold milk adulterated to the extent of 9.5 per cent. John Rimmer, farmer, of Marahside, was assessed in the like penalty for a similar offence, the dilution being certified by the analyst to amount in this instance to 11.6 per cent.George Aylesbury, proprietor of the Royal Hotel, and contractor for the sale of refreshments at the Botanic Gardens, Churchtown, for having the milk he was vending a t the latter place, slightly adulterated with water, and almost without cream, was fined 35 and costs.A t Macclesfield, Jane Sharpley was fined 3 3 and costs, or two months’ imprisonment wit11 hard labour, for selling flour adulterated with 58 grains of alum to the 4lb. loaf. It was described as the worst case brought in any.Court under the Food and Drugs Adulteration Act. At Greenwich, Joseph Samuel Dmst, of the Blitish Queen, Bihingsgatc Street, Greenwich, appeared to a summons, a t the instance of the Greenwich District Board of Wcrks, charging h i n with selling adulterated gin.The evidence showed that on the 13th of November, Mr. Corden, an Inspector in the service of the Board, purchased a half-pint of gin, retailed at 6d. per quartern, a t the defendant’s house. The certificate of the Analyst, Mr. G.W. Wigner, set forth that the gin was nearly 40 per cent. under proof. Mr. W. Andrems of the Henry VIlI., Foreign Cattle Market, Deptford, was called, and said he had been in business as a licensed victualler 30 years. He said that gin was generally supplied to the trsde at 17 to 22 per cent. under proof, and that the 17 per cent. was diluted with sugar to 22 per cent., which was then what was termed ‘6 Old Tom,’’ and sold at 6d.per quartern, the 22 per cent. under proof having water added and being sold at 6d. per quartern. The 4d. gin he sold was as near as possible that which had been analysed. The price of gin was generally from 12s. to 12s. 6d. per gallon in the market. The defendant mas fined 20s. and costs.- Times. In another case a t Greenwich, a summons for selling gin at 4d.per quartern, 38 under proof, was dismissed on the ground that it was proved by evidence that this was the usual strength of 4d. gin in that district. Mr. Poulter, in opening the case for the defence, raised a preliminary objection that the charge was for selling gin ((to the prejudice of the purchaser,” and contended that the inspector, having acted officially, was not prejudiced by his purchase.Mr. Balguy, the niagistrate-Then you would make the officer useless altogether, unless set in motion by the purchaser, Mrs. Maria Tuck, wife of a farmer residing at South Tawton, was fined 203. and costs by the Exeter magistrates on Thursday for selling adulterated butter. According to the certificate of the city analyst, the article contained a t least 20 per cent.of fatty matter, which might have been either dripping or lard. As we stated a week or two since, short-weighted butter is frequently found in Exeter Market by the inspector, but if the farmers’ wives are going to adulterate as well as to curtail the legal weight of their butter, Exeter provision dealers will do well to be very cautious in purchasing country supplies of this article.- Grocer.At Bromsgrore Public Office, before Sir R. Harington and Mr, R. Srnallwoad, w?s decided a case which has excited a large amourit of attention in the district. On the 11th ultimo charges undcr the Sale of Food and Drugs’ Act, preferred by SuDerintendcnt l’yler, mere heard at the same place, by the same magistrates, against several niiili Eellers.One was convicted and fined 22 and costs ; three caws were withdrawn, the result of the analysis by Dr. Swete, of Worcester, showing the amount of fat in each to be very near the standard. I n the other case, against Thomas Fisher, Dr. Saete’s analysis showcd the milk to contain 11.22 per cent. of solids not fat, and only 1.76 of fat. The defendant was ably defended by Mr.Buller, of Birmingham, who called Mr. Alfred Bostock Hill, of Birmingham, who stated that he had analysed a sample of mi!k (sworn to be the portion of defdant’s milk handed back to him a t the time of purchase by Superintcndent Tyler, in accordance with the Act), and he found it to contain 9.22 per cent. of eolids rot fat and 3.47 of fat. I n this conflict ofscientific evidence, it was decided to send the third portion of the milk sample in the possession of the police to Somerset €louse, for analysis by the Government analyst, and the case mas adjourned till yesterday, for the result to be ascertained.Yesterday Sir R. Harington stated that the analysis showed as follows :-Solids not fat, 9.00 per ccnt. ; fat, 3.55 ; water, 87.45, and the analysts (Messrs.J. Bell, R. Bannister, and G. Lemin) gave i t as their opinion, from the consideration of the result of the analysis, that the milk was genuine. Sir R. Harington said the analysis showed that there must have been 8“ mistake somewhere, as practically it showed the milk t o be genuine, and they must, therefore, dismiss the case; but as they thought it rather hard on defendant to bear all the expenses of the mistake, they had decided to allow one guinea costs.Defendant afterwards applied for other costs, but this was not granted. Defendant said he should not accept the costs allowed before taking a legal opinion.--13il.iizingnirin Daily I’osost, February 14th, 1878. The gin had been adulterated with water, not with anything deleterious. I cannot allow the objectiox Nr.J. W. Thomas, Public A n n l p t for the Borough of Cardiff, has been appointed Public Anallst for the Borough of KSewport, Non.228 THE ANALYST. A new and simple method is reported from Berlin of testing the purity of water by electricity. The more the water is charged with foreign matter, the more does it resist the passage of the electric current., and vice versa.Could not our native chemists devise a version or versions of this aqueous experiment that would admit of application to all the liquid merchandise of refreshment rooms 2- rester% DaiZy Press. FURTHER XOTES FOR BEER DRINKERS.-PrOfCSSOr Galloway, of the Irish College of Science, writes to the Dublin papers, to say that his attention has been directed to an advertisement which appeared in one of the journals devoted to the brewing trade, of a bitter as a substitute for hops.H e procured a sample of this bitter, but there was great dfficulty in obtaining it, as the vendors were careful to ahom they supplied it. I t was found to be picric acid, mixed with a little colouring matter.-Hedical Exanziner. GLYCERIXE IN BEER.-It appear6 tbat beer is adulterated to a great extent with glycerine in Germany.An easy and esact method of its determination in this connection is wanting, and a prize of 3,000 marks has been offered by the Yereinfzir deutschefi Gev;eyb@iss for the best solution of this problcm. -Co’oun& Brewers’ Gazette. FAvExsrrax.-The Town Council having received another letter from the Local Government Bonrtl, asking their rcason for not appointing a Public Analyst, have, after due discussion and deliberation, decided to send a reply to the effect that, L‘ the Council do not consider it necessary to do so.” The Bum? have lately exhibited commendable activity in endeavouring to induce the appointment of Public Analysts throughout the kingdom, and there appears R strong indication of their intention to put the law in oper2- tion against all defaulting authorities.-Lancet, Feb.2nd, 1878. FAVERSHAJI, AT LABT !-At a meeting of the Fayershani Town Council, a third letter mas read from the Local Government Board on the subject of appointing a public analyst for the borough under the Sale of Food and Drngs Act. It stated that the Board had considered the representations made by the Council, but saw no reason rrhy the benefits of the Act should not be extended to Faversham, and therefcre the Council was again urged to appoint an analyst.I t was decided by seven votes against three to rescind the former resolution, and to make the appointment.-Times, Feb. ZGth, 15i8. I f there be any truth in the following statement, the Russian soldier must certainly he credited with powers of digestion not enjoyed by the arrnic,s of other nations.-4n Austrian Military paper, the Vedette, asserts that some bread of the same kind as th3t issued to the Russian troops in Bulgaria was recently obtained and examined by the Military Intendance in Vienna. d careful analysis showed that the bread contained 19 per cent. of sawdust and 1 1 per cent.of saud ! RUSSIAN STROCTTY-The Russians are a remarkable people. We should like to know what the other ingredients were.-Grocer. RECENT CHEMICAL PATENTS. The followhe; specifications have been published during the past month, and can tie obtained from the Great Seal Office, Cursitor Street, Chancery Lane, London. 1877. Kame of Patentee. KO. 2288 J. Holden and S. Turton . . . . . .e420 A. Colson . . . . . . . . . . . . 2476 R. TV. Wallace and C. F. Claus ... 2488 F. D. Marshall . . . . . . . . . 2579 P. & F. M. Spence . . . . . . . . . 2612 Ditto . . . . . . . . . 2591 8. McDrummond 6: J. A. W. Donald 2636 F. B. Doering . . . . . . . . . . . . 2663 >l.Welton . . . . . . . . . . . . 2687 E. Solvay . . . . . . . . . . . . 2705 H. Gardner . . . . . . .. . . . . 2720 G. Lund . . . . . . . . . . . 2736 G. W. Von Nawrocki . . . . . . 2753 F. W. Haddan . . . . . . . . . 4143 W. E. Nickerson . . . . . . . . Title of Patent. Price. Receptacles for Acids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nanufdcture of Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Purification of Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manufacture of Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manufacture of Alum, &c. . . . . . . . . . . . . Ditto . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Manufacture of Chromate5 . . . . . . . . . . . . Medicated Wools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Treatment of Bicarbonate of Soda . . . . . . . . . Pyrometer or Thermometrical Indicator . . . . . . Apparatus for Synchronizing Clocks . . . . . . . . . Treating F e c a l Matters for Production of Manure ... Apparatus for Burning Hydrocarbons . . . . . . Sour Tannin Solutions for Plumping Hides . . . . . . Preserving Meat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2d. 6d. 4d, 6d. 6d. 2d. 2d. 2d. 2d. Gd. 6d. 6d. 4d. 2d. 2d. The Index to Vol. 2 will be published with our next number. Price to non.subscribers, 3d. ; to subscribers, free. BOOES, &c., RECEIVED. The Chemist and Druggist; The Bremers’ Guardian; The Britisb Medical Journal; The Medical Examiner ; The Medical Times and Gazette; The Pharniaceutical Journal ; The Sanithry Record; The Medical Record ; The Miller; The Anti-Adulteration Review ; Jcuinal of Applied Science; ‘lke Couutry Breiter,’ Gazette.