摘要:

ah4 INCLUDING &mIg!it, THE PROCEEDINGS OFTHE "SOCIETY OF PUBLIC ANALY S T YA Monthly Journal for the information of those interested in the purity of Foodand Drugs, and in general Analytical and Microscopical Research.CONTENTS.THE SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACT,. ..............ANALYSIS OF COFFEE LEAVES. By 0. Hehner, F.C.S.PROPOSED AMERICAN ADULTERATION BILL. By Dr.Muter M.A t c .................................MILK PRE'SERV~T~ES. BY Q. W. Wigner, F.c.s.., . .BILL .......................................... SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACT (1875) AMENDMENTSEPARATION OF QUININE AND STRYCHNINE ..........818485889092CORRESPONDENCE .................................. 98ANALYSTS' REPORTS ................................ 94LAW REPORTS ...................................... 96NOTES OF THE MONTH ............................. 98SANITARY FLUID ....................................100CHEMICAL PATENTS ................................ 100BOOKS RECEIVED .................................. 100WORK DONE BY PUBLIC ANALYBTs .................. 100I1COMMITTEE O F PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY'S PROCEEDINGS.J. MUTER, PE.D., M.A., F.C.S.G. W. WIGNEB, F.C.S.A. H. ALLEN, F.C.S.A. DUPRE, PH.D., F.R.S., F.C.S.C. HEISCH, F.C.S.ABSTRACTORS,E. W. T. JONES, F.C.S.J. FALCONER KING, F.C.S. II C. H. PIESSE. F.C.S.A. WYNTER BLPTH, M.R.C.S.C. A. CAMERON, M.D.OTTO HEHNER, F.C.S.FINEST BERLINPORCELAIN.-BOHEMIANGLASS. -GRA DUA TEDINS TRU M E N TS.-H OFMA N N'SA PPA RA TUS.-A L80ELECTRICAL,GA L VA NIC,PNEUMA TICA PPA RA TUS,do., do.COMPLETEQUA L I TA TI VE,QUA N T I TA TIVEjAND ASSAYA PPA RA TUS.P LA T TN E R'STHOMPSON'SAPPARATUS.M a XACEKSON & C a m ,(J.ORME AND H. M. CAPNER,)65, BARBICAN, LONDON, E.C. (nearly opposite the Aldersgate Street Station of the Metropolitan Railway),ScientificApparatus.WHOLESALE AND EXPORT.Makers of Apparatus to the Laboratories of the Inland Revenue, Royal Arsenal, Royal XiXtarJrAoademy, Science Schools, India OfBce, South Kensington, &o.Catalogues and Estimates sent on application, enclosing Business Card for Tern, &cTHE ANALYST.WORKS BY DR. HUTER, LA., F.C.S.,President of the Society of Public Analysts ; Public Analyst for Lambeth, Southwark,Bermondsey, Rotherhithe, Newington, and Wandsworth.Now ready, demy 8v0, with copious Tables, price 7s.6d.A N INTRODUCTION TO ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY. For Medicaland Pharmaceutical Students.Now ready, royal 8v0, Second Edition, cloth, with Analytical Tables and copious Index, price 10s. 6d.A N INTRODUCTION TO PHARMACEUTICAL AND MEDICALCHEMISTY, Theoretical and Practical.‘6 The book is one of a very useful and original kind, and is brought up to the latest date, tests andAmongst the best chemical treatises of the day, and in many respects superior to any that have yetprocesses published only a few months since being described in their proper places.”-Chemical News.been published.”-PuMic Health.Third Edition, 600 pp., 8vo. Price 12s. 6d. A KEY TO ORGANIC MATERIA EKEDICA. Analytical Chemists w i ~find this a concise and yet complete book of reference for the isolation and examination of theactive principles of drugs.Special a,ppendix on the microscopic characters of the starches in food anddrugs. Copious index and qualitative courses or resins, &c.LONDON : BAILLIERE, TINDALL & Cox, 20, King William Street, Strand, a.nd all Booksellers.NOW READY, crown 8v0, cloth, 12s. 6d.PRACTICAL CHEMISTRY (A Manual of). By A. WYNTER BLYTH, M.R.C.S.,F.C.S., Public Analyst for the County of Devon. PART I: ANALYSIS OF FOODS-F~OW, Bread, Milk,Butter, Cheese ; Tea, Coffee, Cocoa ; Alcoholic Liquids ; Condiments. PART II : DETECTION OF POISONS-Organic or Inorganic. With Tables and Diagrams. ‘‘ A work of great value-contains a vast amountof rare and valuable information.”-Chemist and Druggist.LONDON : CHARLES GRIFFIN & Co., Stationers’ Hall Court.Price, ONE SHILLINC).SEASIDE WATER.An Examination into the character of the Water Supply atthe Watering Places of England and Wales, being an abstract of a Series of Reports prepared forand published in the Sanitary Record during 1877-78, with Three Comprehensive Tables, giving Analysesof the Drinking Water at all the Sea-Coast Towns. By G. W. WIGNER, F.C.S., one of the HonoSecretaries of the Society of Public Analysts ; Public Analyst for Greenwich, Plumstead, and W o o l 3Districts.KENT & Co., Paternoster Row, London ; and at all Railway Bookstalls.TEE ANALYST, Vols. I. & 11I.-V01.11. out of Print.INCLUDING the Proceedings of the Society of Public Analysts, and embracing alarge number of Original Papers on every branch of Chemical Analysis, with a comprehenaiveEdited (under the direction of the Committee of Publication) by G. W. WIONER, F.C.B., andJ. MUTER, Ph.D., F.C.S.Published by BAILLI~RE, TINDALL & Cox, King William Street, Strand, W.C.Index of Subjects and Names. Price, bound in cloth, 7s. ; in half-calf, 9s.E. G E T T I BL; CO.,WUFACTURERS OF BAROMETERS, THERMOMETERS, CHEMICAL ANDPHILOSOPHICAL APPARATUS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION.Dr. Franklin’s Apparatus for Analysis of Water. Dr. McLeod’s Modification for Water and Gas.Professor Bischof‘s Apparatus for Evaporation of Water. Dr. Sprengel’s Mercurial Air Pumps of everyDrs. Russell and West’s Apparatus for Eetimating Urea in Urine. Dr. Blaokley’s Apparatus for Ditto11 and 31, Brooke Btreet, Holborn, London, Wholesale and for Exportation, and Rose CsttageGlass Works, Pratt Street, Lmbeth.form. Water Pumps for quick filtration. Dr. Mill’s Colorimeter.REGISTERED ENAIUEL BAUK URINE SEDIMENT TEST TUBES

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN87904FP021

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST.PURE ACIDS AND CHEMICALSFOR ANALYSISKNOWLES & PHILLIPS,47, MINORIES, E.C.PRICE LIST FORWaRDED ON BPPLICATION,N.B.-References as to quality and price kindly allowed by severalleading Analysts already supplied.4L. OEBTLING,TURNMILL STREET,(Opposite Fam'ngdon Street Station,)YANUFACTUBEB OFCHEMICAL, ASSAY & BULLIONBALANCES.Maker to the Bank of England, Assay OfElce of the Royal Mint, &c., &c. By Appointment.-%\%%-COUNCIL MEDAL, 1851. FIRST CLASS MEDAL, 1864 and 1862.THE SANITARY FLUID.ANTISEPTIC DISINFECTANT for Preventing Epidemics and Destroying InfectiousDiseases, as supplied to the' Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. This Fluid is a powerful Antiseptic, Disin-fectant and Deodoriser, and from its harmlessness may be applied in any direction without any ill-effects,and with the best possible reiults.THE '' PRINCESS ALICE " CALAMITY.-The Sanitary Fluid was used at the Woolwich Dock-yard for Disinfecting over 600 bodies.The Clothing taken from the Bodies and over 500 Sheets werealso Disinfected in large Cauldrons. Also the Building, Yards, &c., giving the greatest satisfaction to theDockyard and Parish Authorities. The work was carried out under the superintendence of Mr. HARMER.S1a,-1 beg to inform you thatI consider your Disinfectant, as applied in the Dockyard, both to buildings and clothing, after theremora1 of the dead from the premises, very efficacious, and, from its cleanliness and absence of smell,very superior to the Disinfectants in the form of powder generally used.-Faithfully yours, J.T.BARRINQTON, Assistant Commissary General. Mr. Harmer, Stratford, E."For Asylums, Schools, Sanitary Authorities, Railway and Dock Companies, Workhouses, Shipping, &c.Price 1s. per bottle ; 3s. 6d. per gallon ; large quantities at a cheaper rate, of the Sols Manufacturer,W. J. HARMER, West Ham Lane, Stratford, E., or through Agents.The &GIC FLUID for General Household Purposes, price la. 6d. per galIon. Write for Pamphlet,TESTIMONIAL-" H.M. Dockyard, Woolwich, September 23, 1878.with Testimonials, &a. NON-POISONOUSTHE ANALYST.WORKS PUBLISHED by BAILLIhRE, TINDALL 8r COX,Now ready, Sixth Edition, price 18s.ODERN MEDICAL THERAPEUTICS. A Compendium of RecentFormulse and Specific Therapeutical Directions, from the Practice of Eminent ContemporaryPhysicians-English, Amcricnn, slid Foreign.By GEOROE H. NAPHEHS, A.M., M.D.Now ready, demy Svo, with copious Tables, price 9s.ATERIA MEDICA AND PHARMACY. For the use of Medical andPharmaceutical Students preparing for Examination. By W. HANDSEL GRIFFITHS, Ph.D.,$.R.C.P., Edin., &c. Edited by GEORGE F. DUFFEY, M.D., F.C.S., Fellow and Censor, King andQueca’s College of Physicians, Examiner in Materia Medica in the Queen’s Unirersity.Now ready, Fourth Edition, 1s. ; or mounted on rollers, varnished, 3s. 6d.P030EOGICAL TABLES : A Classified Chart of Doses ; showing at a glanceFor the use of Practitioners and Students.By HANDsEr, GRIFFITHS, Ph.D., ~J.R.C.P., &c., late Professor of Chemistry Ledwich School of Medicine.the Dose of every Officinal Substance and Preparation.Now ready, price Gs.THE PRINCIPLES OF THERAPEUTICAL CHEMISTRY, withspecial reference to the constitution of Chemical Compounds.By IRA REMSEN, M.D., Ph.D.6 6 Worthy of careful perusal.”-New York Medical Record.‘6 A most original work.”-MedicaZ Press.Now ready, with Plate and numerous Engravings, Second Edition, price 5s.THE URINE. A Guide to its Practical Examination. By PROF. J. TYSON, M.D.,Professor of Morbid Anatomy in the University, aiid President of the Pathologicd Society ofPhiladelphia.Second Edition, enlarged and revised, price 5s.FOOD : its Varieties, Chemical Composition, Nutritive Value, Comparative Digesti-bility, Physical Functions and Uses, Preparation, Preservation, Adulterations, $0.By the lateHENRY LETHEBY, M.B., M.A., Ph.D., &c.household guide, it is excellently adapted.”--PubpicOpiition.‘6 Either RS a text-book for schools, or asDemy Svo, 476 pp., numerous Tables, price 10s. 6d. A, MANUAL OF HYGIENE, PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, and Com-pendium of Sanitary Laws, for the information and guidance of Public Health Authorities andBy CHARLES A. CANERON, M.D., F.R.C.S., Prdessor of HygiAne, Royal College$ 6 By far the most comprehensive work on HygiBne for Health Officers and others which we haveSanitarians generally.of Surgeons, Medical Officer of Health and Analyst for the City of Dublin.met with.”--Phn~maceuticul Journal.Now ready, Second Edition, with coloured Plates and numerous Engravings, price 12s. A MANUAL OF NAVAL HYGIENE, containing Instructions and PracticalNavy.-SUROEON-GENERAL SCOTT, Royal Nuvy.Hints €or Use on Board Ship. Ry JOSEPH WILSON, M.D., Medical Director of the United States( 6 I cannot adequately express the great value I attach to the work of Dr. Wilson on Naval Hygidne.”LONDON : BAILLIERE, TINDALL & Cox, 20, King William Street, Strand ; and all booksellers.Printed for the Proprietors by JOHN DAVIS, Old Kent Road, S.E. { and published by B ~ R E , TINDALL t Cox, KingWillism Street, Strand, W.C., to whom all communication8 should be sddressed

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN87904BP023

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

81 THE ANALYST. MAY, 1879. THE SALE OF FOOD AND DRUGS ACT. THE recent decision of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, h the case of Hoyle v . Hitchman, was given at suoh a late date that we could not comment upon it, although we published the judgment itself and a considerable portion of the argumants in the special supplement which was issued with our last number, It is fitting, therefore, that we should now make a few remarks upon a decision, which, as the Times says, “ has laid a troublesome phantasm which was disturbing the operation of a very useful statute,” although we, no less than the Times, dl are grateful.” We have uniformly expressed the opinion that this was the decision the Court of Queen’s Bench would arrive at, and it is the more satisfactory to know that it was given not merely on the particular case at issue, (which was one of adulterrhd milk containing 25 per cent.of water) ; but,that previous judicial remarks and so called decisions were fully reviewed and referred to in the judgment. Some of the remarks made by Mr. Justice Mellor are of such importance that it is worth while to draw special attention to them : he said, “if the meaning of the enactment is that the offence cannot be completed without its being to the prejudice of the purchaser, it is hmdly possible that the offence should be brought home to anyone ;” and further, “it would be strange, indeed, if all these provisions were to be made nugatory by a construction which would in effect come to this-that proceedings could only be taken by private individuals ;” and again, ( ( I cannot bring my mind to the conclusion that in such a case as this the offence is less complete merely because the money with which the purchase was made was not the money of the purchaser, which must be wholly immaterial to the seller, and cannot affect the offence he has committed.’’ The judgment, therefore, is given entirely on the broad ground that if the decision of Sir James Ingham were allowed to stand, the Act would be rendered entirely inoperative, which certainly was not the intention of the legislature at the time the Act was passed.Mr. Justice Mellor, in his judgment, also points out one thing on which no special stress had been previously laid, vie., that in the Court of Sessions in Scotland, out of seven judges two dissented altogether from the well-known decision, and two others appear to have declined to adopt the view of the remaining three in reference to the “prejudice” question, so that the majority of the Scotch Court was actually of the same opinion as Justices Mellor and Lush.The introduction of an Amending Bill into the House of Commons, and its reference to a Select Committee, affords us a suitable opportunity to refer to two or three other points in connection with the working of the Act.We have often pointed out before that defences to prosecutions, under the Sale of Food Act, very frequently take the form of detecting flaws of some sort or other in the Act itself. When a man is charged with a misdemeanour of an ordinary kind, the ingenuity of his professional advisers naturally takes advantage of every opportunity of proving him technically innocent rather than guilty ; but it is somewhat unusual to find the actual meaning, or intention, or scope of an Act of Parliament challenged, unless the prosecution is taking place under the Sale of Food Act.Yet anyone who would tltke the trouble, a,@82 THE ANALYST.we have, to examine the records of disputed cases during the last four years, would be struok with the fact that in a very large number of cases the defence hams been-not that the analysis was incorrect-not that the sample had been purchased from any other shop-not that the inspector had tampered with it ; but in some ingenious way seeking to prove that the prescribed formalities of dividing, labelling, sealing, and so on, had not been fully complied with, Some of the trade journals who have adopted a virulent tone towards Public Analysts generally, say that disputed cases are frequently due to analytical blunders; but it is a singularly significant fact that out of some 50,000 gamples examined by Public Analysts during the last four years, only somewhere about one per thousand has been sent to the chemists at Somerset House for a second analysis, and this, notwithstanding the well-known fact that in certain cases, such for instance as milk, those chemists have adopted a standa'rd lower than is justified by the experienoe of Public Analysts themselves, or by the large -number of analyses published by chemists of repute ; and it is still more significant that in about half the cases which have QctualIy gone to Somerset House the chemists there have confirmed the results of the Public Analysts, mid of the remaining half of the cases their report has frequently been simply equivalent to giving the benefit of the doubt to the vendor-that is, they were unable, owing to the lapse of time or from some other cause, to say whether the sample was adulterated or not.Such a state of things as this is satisfactory as regards the Analysts themselves, and as regards the Queen's Bench decision ; but when viewed in connection with the proceedings taken when the 1875 Act was before parliament, and the character of some of the clauses in the Bill now before the Select Committee, it may have a still more important bearing.It will be in the recollection of most of our readers that when the present Act was introduced into the House of Commons, after the report of the 1874 Select Committee had been presented, a suggestion was made on the part of our Society that a schedule, defining the strength and composition of certain articles, should be introduced into the Act.This schedule was not drawn or put forward with a view to reach any abnormal standard of either quality or purity in the articles referred to in it; but after long consideration and full discussion by members of the Society, it was go arranged as to cover every fair natural variation in the quality of those articles, so that for instance, no genuine milk, derived from a healthy cow, should be condemned under it, while for the same reason the better class of articles, whether milk, or cocoa, or coffee, would allow of some considerable amount of dilution or adulteration before they would reach the limits of the standard fixed. On the other hand an endeavour was made to fix the standard sufficiently high to prevent absolutely reckless sophistication by other means than the mere addition of foreign ingredients, that is, to prevent the produce of starved and diseased cows from being passed off on the public as genuine milk, and it is precisely on such points as these that the schedule to the Act w&s most needed, and that the so-called protection intended to be afforded by the Inland Revenue Chemists has proved to be worse than useless.Viewed in the abstract, the proposition of the Society simply amounted to this : that whereas certain substances, as sold, differ slightly in quality even when genuino ; and whereas certain tradesmen, less scrupulous than the majority, taking advantage of this fact, were in the habit of reducing the goods they sold still further, that, therefore, this schedule (with any alterations which might be made in it) should be taken to dehe what was the lowest strength of any substance permitted to be sold as an article of food unlem that substace were labelled as a mixture. The adoption of some suchTHE ANALYST.83 schedule as this, even if the figures suggested by the Society had not been followed in their integrity, would, in our opinion, have rendered the Act much simpler, and it would certainly have obviated all necessity for referring to such a point as the “prejudice of the purchaser,” because a minimum strength being given in every case it is practically certain that every shopkeeper would work as nearlyas he could to that minimum strength, unless he secured an increased price for an article of better quality.The Act being thus rendered simple and much more effectual, tradesmen, instead of being in doubt as they are now as to what is legal, would have had a certain defined standard to work to, and thus all dispute as to what was and what was not adulteration would have been prevented, because a legal standard having once been fixed there would practically have been no difference between the results obtained by one Analyst and another on any given sample. However, in 1875, the opinion of the legislature was adverse to any such schedule, and consequently the views of the Society were passed over, and until the introduc- tion of the present Bill, which bears the names of Messrs.Anderson, Taylor, and Whitwell, there has been no attempt to give any schedule of any kind.Now, however, one is introduced relating to articles as to which a standard is specially needed, and from the discussion which took place before the Select Committee to whom the Bill was referred, it seems likely that this partial schedule, as to spirits only, will be adopted. Although the Committee’s Report is not pnblished, yet we understand that they will advise that all spirits, except gin, be allowed to be sold at 25 U.P., and gin at 35 U.P.Should this prove to be the case it will be, in more respects than one, a satisfactory step, because it will not only be the first adoption of the principle of definite standards, but it will relieve Public Analysts of a clifficulty which has for some time past prevented any satisfactory certificates from being returned in reference to spirits.Milk is the substance which, after spirits, most requires that a standard should be fixed for it, but here we could scarcely expect at present to meet with uniformity of opinion ; without going over old ground, it is notorious that there is a difference of several per cent. between Analysts and the Somerset House Chemists. Our experience, and it is by no means small-since Public Analysts examined during 1878 more than 5,000 samples of milk-goes fax to confirm the standard adopted by the Society some years ago, and we bdieve it is true that Mr.Bell and his coadjutors are gradually seeing their way to raise their figures slowly though steadily to those adopted by the Society. But leaving this moot point, it certainly seems to us that drugs might fairly have been considered.worthy of a place in this Amendment Bill, and that, if a standard were to be fixed for spirits, tlie Pharmacopaeia might also have been taken as a standard for drugs. The subject was mentioned before the Committee, though not by this Society ; but we learn that the Committee appear not to see their way at present to acceFt either the Pharmacopoeia or any other standard as being a fit and proper standard for c‘u.u,os.Therefore, Public Analysts will have to work as hitherto, according to their own judgment, guided by the information giveu in the Phmmacopceia, and using their cliscretion in each case as to wlietlier a sample should be returned as adulterated or not. This seems to us specially unfortunate-no less so to the chemists and druggists than to the Analysts, because both are still left in the sitme position of uncertainty.We cannot at all agree with the opinion expressed by Mr. Bell on this point, when he stated that his objection to the Pharmacopceia as a standard was that every Analyst would use it as a ]lard and fast line, nnd that before such a standard as that was taken itl ought to be But a singular anomaly will yet remain in the Act.84 THE ANALYST.referred to the Pharmaceutical Society to know if they had anything to say to it. Broadly, this means, if it has any meaning at all, that Mr. Bell thinks that the Pharmaceutical Society, after having put forward the Pharmacopeia for yeam as their recognised standard, are, now that a proposal is made to test their goods according to it, to be asked first whether they wish to alter their standard.We can scarcely believe such an idea could have entered the minds of the Pharmaceutical Society, but rather that some idea as to the wholesale adulteration of drugs must have been prevailing in Mr. Bell’s mind, in reference, for instance, to such drugs as the sulphate of quinine? recently sent to India. We are quite certain that both parties would be in a far better position, with a definite standard laid down, than they are now, in cases in which a drug is found to be short of the Pharmacopaia, strength. We understand that the Committee also reoommend that prosecutions should be instituted within twenty-eight days from the purchase of the samples, and also that samples for analysis may be purchased in L L open places of publio resort,” which we suppose may be taken to mean streets and markets, in addition to the shops only which Bome magistrates have held are the only places at which they may now be purchased. We cannot give the Bill in its amended form in our present number, but next month we hope to do so, and shall probably have oocasion to refer to one or two other points likely to be brought up by it.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8790400081

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

84 THE ANALYST. AN ANALYSIS OF COFFEE LEAVES. BY OTTO HEWER, F.C.S. Read before the Society of Plcblic Analysts, on 19th February, 1879. A SUPLE of roasted coffee leaves, mdysed by W. Stenhouse (Phil. Mag., 4, vii., 21), contained 1.2 per cent. of theine, 2.1 per cent. of total nitrogen, and yielded 88.8 per cent. of extractive matter, the infusion possessing a taste as of tea and coffee combined.Having recently had a sample of the slightly roasted leaves, as used in Brisbaae, Australia, handed to me, I have examined them with the following results :- Moisture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Theine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soluble nitrogeneus matter . . . . . . . . . . Soluble mineral salts . . . . . . . . . . . . Other extractive matter . . . . . . . . . . Insoluble nitrogenous matter.. . . . . . . . . Celluloso . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chlorophyl, a d other insoluble non-nitrogenous snhrjttinces Insoluble minerd salts . . . . . . . . . . Total extractive matters . . . . . . . . . . Total ash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soluble . . . . . . . . . . . . Insoluble . . . . . . . . . . Smd . . . . . . . . . . . . Total nitrogen, by Bod& lime prooeas I I a .... .. . I .. *. .. .. .. .. .. ., .. a . I . 10.29 4.95 19.81 13.36) 100~00 30.16 8'82 ; of whioh is 3.83 0.42 8.02 per cent. 4-99 ; inoludingTHE ANALYST. 85 The infusion contained much caffe-tannio acid, as well as some tannin and The amount of theine found is remarkably small. The taste of the infusion, if it can be compared with anything, resembles that of a mixture of tea and tobacco, a taste invariably observed, as I was told by my informaat, by habitual consumers of the infusion.The leaves when burnt or roasted exhale a powerful d o u r of tobacco, and the vapours, when condensed on a glass plate, smell overpoweringly of tobacco juice, It is needless to add that the leaves were carefully examined with the microscope, and that they contained no particle of tobacco.The microscopic structure of the leaves presents nothing very remarkable, but the sheaths of the veins are most regularly undulated. Mr. J. Hughes said that, having lately visited Ceylon, where he saw Mr. Cotton who had sent a sample to one of the societies here, he was much interested in the andysis, Coffee leaves had already been prepared and exhibited with a view, if possible, for future use as a drink ; the infusion was something like tea, and under some circumstances might be used as a substitute by persons living in the country. It is rather strong but very refreshing, especially after a long walk or ride. glucose, the latter probably derived from the decomposition of the tannin, The stomata me small and numerous,

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8790400084

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST. 86 PROPOSED AMERICAN ADULTERATION BILL. BY DR. MUTER, M.A., F.C.S. IN closing the discussion on the paper on the German Adulteration Bill, which Mi.. Hehner read before the Society of Public Analysts on the 19th March last,::: Dr. Muter said : Although I rise to conclude this discussion, I have yet really nothing to say as to the German Bill in addition to what has already been expressed, except to thank Mr.Hehner, in the name of the Society, for a most interesting communication ; but, I have brought with me to-night the draft of a proposed law ( ( t o prevent the adulteration of food and medicine, and to create a State Board of Eealth” in the United States of America. This draft is in the form of a report to the Medical Society of the State of New York, and is published as a special supplement to the rising American journal known as New Remedies.It appears that for a year hack the whole subject has been under consideration by a joint committee made up of representatives from the New York Actdomy of Sciences, the New York Academy of Medicine, the Medical Society of the County of New York, the Therapeutical Society, New York College of Pharmacy, New York Medico-Legal Society, the Public Health Association, md the American Chemical Society, and considerable time has been devoted to the examination of the subject; and two or three drafts of laws besides this have been prepwed a d submitted to discussion.The report opens with critical remarks upon the defects of our (‘ Sale of Food and Drugs Act,” and the following is the summary of these weak points :- First, the law must so clearly define the offence of adulteration in all its various forms, even by repetition in wording the definition where this may be useful, as to make the various forms of the offence plain to the understanding of the persons who * See Analyst, vol.iv., p, 62.86 THE ANALYST. adulterate, rather than by general definitions to leave too much to be decided only by litigation in the courts, If the offence be well defined to the person who adulterates, the first effect will be to prevent or deter him.Secondly, the questions of intent to defraud, and of injury or prejudice to the purchaser of adulterated articles, either ns to health or to cost, are carefully avoided, because in a definite, fully recognized shape they are often entirely wanting in the adulterator, and are always difficult to prove.A very large proportion of the adulterations practised are not attempts at fraud, nor designed to damage health, but are straining efforts to make money. And these efforts are so earnest and so intense, energetic, a d absorbing as to leave all other considerations in the background.That the publio is hurt and cheated is but an accident rather than a malicious intention. In place of these the adulterator is made responsible for the effects of his acts in their more definite and physical relations to the public ; and to the penalties imposed upon them. The offence then consists in the act of debasement, which is so easily proven by the debased article.And a pleading of absence of intent to defraud, or of the harmless character of the debasement to the individual purchaser, would simply amount to a plea of ignorance of the effects of the offence, and would influence the courts--not so much on the question of conviction because the public offence of debasement has been committed-but simply as to the extent to which the adulterator should suffer in order to prevent others frm aimilar acts through similar ignorance.Thirdly, the making it the duty of the consumer who may be injured to prosecute the offenders (using the inspectors merely as witnesses in the prosecutions) has been carefully avoided, because it has been found that very few persons have either the inclination, time, or money, to give to such prosecutions, and that it is much cheaper for individuals to suffer than to prosecute.To carry out the law, State Boards of Health are to be constituted, consisting of two physicians, one chemist, one barrister, and one eminent retired merchant, who are to be duly sworn to appoint analysts and inspectors, and carry out prosecutions. The analysts are to be bound to procure and examine ten samples of food and drugs each meek, and to meet at stated intervals to discuss processes, and fix standardB to be laid before the Board of Health for approval, and when so approved such standards are to t-e binding.All the reports of the analysts are to go before the Board of Health, and no prosecution is to take place, except by their orders, after consideration of the said reports.The offences are described with almost painful attention to minutia!, and with what often savours of apparently vain repetitions. I. The adding of one or more substances to another or others whereby tile strength, purity, quality, or true value of the resulting substance or mixture is reduced or lowered in its nature or composition with the effect of tending to deceive the public by lowering such substance or mixture from its original and true value, or altering the public significance and common meaning of the name by which it is OX was originally known or used.[Corn meal in flow ; chicory, dtc., in coffee ; terra J b a in cream of tartar ; foreign substances in powdered opium.] They are as follows :- 2. The substitution of one substance for another, either wholly or in part,with the effect of tending to deceive or mislead the public or any part thereof, [Artifioial wines and liquorfl rtnd mixtures ; Wiiloial mustard ; powdered oolocynth seed for coloopth.1THE ANALYBT. a7 3.The abstraction of any part of any substance with the effect that the sepamtion shall reduce the value of the substance and thus tend to deceive or mislead by changing the common significance of iihe name by which, 8s a whole, the substance was originally applied to its use.[Cream from milk, partly exhausted coffee, tea and drugs ; thymol from oil of thyme.] 4. The application of a name commonly known or understood to indioate any substance, to m y part or parts thereof, or to any other substance, with the effect of tending to deceive and mislead.[Oleomargarine for butter ; potato starch for arrowroot ; dead oil for carbolic acid.] The presence in any substance of any impurity, or any foreign matter that is 5. either naturd or accidental to it, if in unusual proportion, [Dirt in all food and medicine ; metallic salts in canned provisions.] 6. The admixture of different qualities of the same substance with the effect of tending to deception and fraud, parnagged wheat in flour ; garden rhubarb in medicinal rhubarb.] 7.Any debasement or dilution of any substame whereby it is reduced in intrinsic value asd is yet liable to be given, bought, sold, or used as though it was not debased or diluted. [Diluted milk ; diluted vinegar ; diluted liquor8 ; diluted medicines.] 8.Any coloring, coating, polishing or powdering or any other alteration in the physical condition or sensible properties of any substance, with or without addition to, or subtraction from it, whereby damage is concealed, or it is made to appear better or greater than it really is, either in quality, weight, or measure ; or whereby impurity or defective quality is partially or wholly.masked or hidden, with the effect of tending to deceive or mislead.[Coloring and polishing of green coffees ; powdering and coloring of damaged drugs ; bread from damaged or mixed flour ; '( large '' bread of short weight.] The giving or selling OF offering for sale, or the possession of any adulterate11 article by any person whoEe business it is to make or to deal in articles of food or medicine shall be prima facie evidence of the offence of adulteration.Provided that it be, and it hereby is declared to be, the sole and entire object and intention of this law to protect the public against deception and fraud in the cost and quality of food and medicine through adulteration. And all the provisions of this law shall be construed and applied in nccordance with its sole object, by the rules of common law.Whether these complicated provisions would work in practice is a grave question, and I am inclined to think that our own law, as it now stands, is both simpler and better. The only point which I consider to be a real improvement is the establishment of a Central Board of Supervision, charged with the fixing and approving of processes and standards previously discussed and recommended by conipulsory meetings of the analysts, and the ordering or not of prosecutions. Given that in Great Britain, we should then have an excellent law providing protection to the traders against over- strained prosecutions, and to the analysts against charges of incompetency arising through mere differences of opinion. 9. SONNENSCHEIN.-The death is announced at Berlin of the webknown Qhemist, Professor Sonnensohein, He had only reached the age of aixty-two'

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8790400085

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

TEE ANALYST, MILK PRESERVATIVE-S. BY G. W. WIGNER, F.C.S. Read b e ~ % ~ e ths Society of Public Analysts, on 30th April, 1879. TEE trade in milk preservatives appears to have increased of late, the larger number of quack nosfrwma in us&, and the greater extent to which they are advertised, tending to prove that this is the case; but the most convincing proof is to be found in the fact, that the relative proportions of ash and solids not fat in commercial smples of milk sold in London are not so uniform as has been found to be the case in genuine milk, or even so uniform as used to be the case with ordinary samples of milk, whether genuine or watered, as purchased by inspectors.There is therefore a strong inference that as the ash shows a relative increase, mineral matter of Borne kind has in many cases been purposely added.It is of course highly improbable that this would be added simply for the purpose of increasing either the specific gravity, or the amount of solids not fat ; the proportion which could be added for such a purpose would not be sufficient to effect the object sought, and the mineral substances used must be added either as preservatives, or as antiseptics, or must be contained in the form of mineral impurities in common annatto, or some other colouring matter which has been added to the mi€k.I have recently examined a few of these colouring matters and preservative fluids, so-called, in order to see what is being used at the present time for the purpose of mixing with milk, and I append ’s Extract of Annatto is a very dark-coloured liquid, quite free from buspended matter, sp.gr. 1040. It contains- Volatile organio matter . . . . . . . . . . 2.79 per cent. Ash (mineral matter) . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-96 .. Total solid matter . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.74 .. few notes on the results of the analyses. - The Ash contained Fe, Na, K, Ca, Al, SO,, CO,, with a trace of NH,.This liquid is sold at 2s. 9d. per pint, and it is evident therefore that it could not pay to use it for the mere purpose of inoreasing the ‘‘ solids not fat ” in watered milk, while it is equally possible that the large amount of ash may sensibly alter the ratio between solids not fat and ash in a sample of milk to which it has been added for other purposes, Obviously the only use which could be make of it by a dairyman is to give a higher colour to milk, butter and cheese.-’s Cake Annatto at 4s. 6d. per lb. contains- Moisture.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51.2 per cent. Volatile organic matter . . . . . . . . . . 25.3 .. Ash (mineral matter). . . . . . . . . . . . 23.4 .. A qualitative examination of the ash sliowed Fe, Na, K, Ca, Mg, SO,, PO,, C1, CO,.It will be seen that the relative proportions of ash aiid volatile organic matter do not materially d s e r from the Extract of Annatto last referred to, and the results of the qualitative examination are sufficiently similar to render it highly probable that the Cake has been prepared from Extract of Annaitto of this class by merely evaporating it to dryness so as to render it more portable.It is clear that this Cake Annatto is a far cheaper material to use for colouring, inasmuch as at 4s. 6d. per pound it possesses about four times the relative colouring power-value for value-that the Extract does. There wn, I think, be little question that it has h e n mixed with foreign minerd matters, and these of o o u ~ e may aeriously affect the ash of milk with which it hasTHE ANALYST.89 been used; it could not, however, be profitably used to increase the amowt of total solids, or to diminish the apparent amount of water in milk. - ’s Cream Sweetener is a liquid sold in canisters at 2s. 9d. per pint, and 16s. per gallon. The instructions issued by the manufacturers state that it is to be added in the proportion of one pint to sixteen imperial gallons, or in very hot or thundery weather it is advisable to use a quart to the sixteen ga,llons.It is expressly stated that it is perfectly free from adulteration, and that it assists greatly in throwing up the cream, and even increases the percentage.” An examination of the fluid shows that it has 8 sp. gr. of 1070. Total solids . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12.5 per cent. Ash (mineral matter) . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.1 .. The most noticeable feature is that the Sweetener contains a large proportion of glucose ; the ash consists almost entirely of Borax and carbonate of soda. Traces of iron are present, but there is no salicylic acid. It will be seen that in this case the sp. gr. might sometimes cause a sample of milk to give siightly erratic results, and the addition of glucose to milk or sugar is certainly, in my opinion, a fraudulent admixture.But however this may be, it seems scarcely feasible that any dairyman could use such a compound as this, at the advertised price, for the mere purpose of strengthening yatered milk. Even if there were the inclination on the part of any dairyman to adulterate in this way, no profit could possibly ensue to him, but only to the makers of such a nostrum. .- ’s Pure Antiseptic Powder fully justifies its name, or at any rate the first adjective, for it consists of pure boracic acid; the retail value of bomcic mid is about 8d.per lb., and one cannot help pitying the poor milkman who buys this patent medicine at the rate of Is. per 6-02. packet. The directions for use are very interesting : 6 oz.is to be dissolved in a gallon of warm water, a8nd each can is to have from + to 1 gill (according to the weather) of the solution to every gallon of milk it contains, and is then to be set aside for the crea’ni to rise. Clearly the makers of this powder are under the impression that dairymen generatlly want to prepare skimmed milk, instead of to sell the genuine article, as wider the Act they are bound to do.-’s Food Preserver has one merit, or perhaps I should say the proprietors have the merit of being candid, for they coolly say in their advertisement that “if those using it do not object to risk a prosecution under the Adulteration Act, it may be diluted with advantage, as its solution, at the rate of an ounce in a qumt of boiling water will give a fluid,” &c.This seems to me to be about 8s clear instructions for adulteration as any I have reoently met with. However, this Food Preserver, which is described as a harmless, odourless, colourless, and tasteless powder, and which is sold at the rate of 6d. per ounce packet, or 5s. per pound tin, consists dmply and solely ot borax, From a list before me I find that the price of borax is about 6d.per pound, I cannot wonder, therefore, that the proprietors find it profitable not only to manu- facture, but to advertise such a preparation. There is another advertisement going the round of the dairy papers of another compound said to have been of immense value in preserving milk, and which the vendors say may be safely used, because it has been certified by medical authorihiee. This also consists simply of bomx,90 THE ANALYST. In conolusion I think Public Anrtlysts would do well to carefully examine the ash of milk for the purpose of detesting borax, or any of these other substmcee, and then use their judgment as to what future steps should be taken. I think 1 need hardly say wkst course I should myself pursue.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8790400088

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

90 THE ANALYST. THE ADULTERATION OF FOOD IN CANADA. THE Offioid Report on the Adulteration of Food in Canada, forming the Third Supple- ment to the Report of the Department of Inland Revenue of that province for the year 1878, is, &B it was last year, an extremely complete and carefully compiled blde book,THE ANALYST. 91 which-dthough only 813 samples were analysed ; this, however, being a fair proportion to the popdation-amounts to nearly 70 pages.The summary shows that adulteration is decreasing in Canada under the influence of the Adulteration Act in exactly the Bame way as we have found it decrease in England, under the administration of the Sale of Food Act. During 1877 a fraction over 50 per cent. of the samples were found adulterated, while during 1878 the percentage fell to 33.3, or exactly one third of the total number examined. There is one peculiar feature in the table, which might well be copied in the summary of the English reports, viz., a column is devoted to articles not returned as adulterated, but their composition is stated by the Analysts, and this shows that they are of doubtful purity.It is very desirable indeed that some such method should be adopted here, so as to enable Analysts to specifically mark cases wLere the inference is against the purity of the sample, although the evidence may not be sufficient to justify a distinctly advcrse report. Looking through the summary it appears that condiments and flavouring materials are very largely adulterated, the Report itself stating not with things injurious to health, hut with things of inferior value ; for instance, we find that 91 per cent.of the samples of allspice were adulterated, and 75 per cent. of the samples of coffee. Out of 80 samples of butter examined, 12-i.e., 15 per cent.-were found to be adulterated, and the Report states that the adulterated samples were, with one exception, found in the possession of market people or small dealers.Canned fruit was found to be adulterated in the proportion of one out of every five, and milk was found to be adulterated in 40 per cent. of the samples. In some cases this adulteration was simply deficiency of fat, but in a considerable number of cases it was water. The Analysts have been directing special attention to the adulteration of sugar, aid especially to the proportions of glucose found to be present in it ; this glucose amounted in one case to as much as 14 per cent.We quite agree that it may be necessary to fix a legal limit above which the presence of glucose should be held to be fraudulent; but judging from the character of the sugars of low quality put on to this market it does not appear to us at all probable that glucose had been purposely added in any of the cases referred to.It seems far more likely that a similar, although not identical fraud had been carried out by boiling the sugar in such a way as to produce a considerable proportion of glucose in it, so as to change its grain for the purpose of enabling a much larger drawback to be obtained from the Government when the sugar mas exported.It is scarcely a feasible thing to mix glucose directly with sugar ; but it is very easy to manufacture glucose in large quantities while the sugar is being concen- trated in the pans. The Report itself is a model of the manner in which adulteration returns should be published by the Government, every sample being separately reported on with the cfetails of the adulteration found, and the whole are tabulated in a convenient form for reference.If our Local Government Board could see their way to tabulate the 50,000 analyses which have been made by the English Analysts during the last four years, the result would be a collection of information which would be of inestimable value to hdysts and tradesmen in future. ~n cono1wion, we need do no more than point out that, in reference to milk, every92 THE ANALYST. sample anslysed by Messrs. Ellis, Edwards, La Rue, and Fraser, has been reported in a tabulated form so as to show the amount of fat, caseine, sugar, ash, and in nearly every case the percentage of water added.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN879040090b

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

92 THE ANALYST. SEPARATION OF QUININE AND STRYCHNINE. BY B. W. DwARs.':' WHEN small amounts of strychnine must be estimated in presence of much quinine, it is advisable, according to the author, to remove first the bulk of the quinine, and this is most effectually done by means of ammonium oxalate, quinine oxalate being almost insoluble in excess of that re-agent. The author used the following process for the analysis of a sample of the well-known Citrate of Iron with Quinine and Strychnih, which, as his analysis shows, is not always what it ought to be.Five grms. were dissolved in a little water, super-saturated with ammonia, and sha,ken with chloroform. After evaporating the chloroform, and drying the residue at l l O o C., there remained -81 grm.=16.2 per cent.alkaloids. These were now dissolved in 10 C.C. warm water, and a few drops sulph. acid, then neutralized by ammonia and mixed with ammonium oxalate in excem. After standing for twenty-four hours the quinine oxalate was collected on a weighed filter, the mother liquor still adhering to it removed by gentle pressure, arid finally once washed with water, After drying at lOOQ C. it weighed *704 grms., or -618 quinine.The filtrate and wash water were sliakeii up with ammonia and chloroform, and the latter yielded on evaporation -1775 grms., consisting of amorphous alkaloid (which ought not to exist in the pure drug), strychnine, and traces only of crystallizable quinine. It was twice treated With 3 C.C. of pure ether, which dissolved the amorphous alkaioid, and left behind -021 grms.of pure strychnine. Only minute traces of strychnine were lost, The final result was a6 follows :- Amorphous qnininc . . 3.13 ), - - Y 3 ? 9 .. 4.44 Strychnine ,, .. 4 2 9 7 Cryst. quinine , . . . 12.36 per cent.=quinine citrate . . 17.66 per cent. - - 22.10 15-91 Loss * . .. *29 So 22.10 per cent, quinine citrate instead of 24 per cent. ; aud *42 per cent.strychnine instead of 1 per cent. DUTIES OF AN&YsTs.-At the meeting of the Holborn District Board of Works, on April 2, Mr. Walker called the attention of the Board to the fact that during the past three months there had been no complaints whatever in regard to adulterations in the district. He suggested that, instead of paying their Analyst by salary, the Board should give a fee per case. Mr. Mather said they had certainly had no '' flaming sensational cases )' recently, but at the same time their Analyst had not been idle, as would be seen by the number of samples that had been investigated. He thought it a matter of congratulation that the inhabitants were apparently being supplied with good and wholesome gtmls. The subject then dropped. Mr. Walker seems to consider that prosecution of the trader rather than protection of the public is the aim of the Sale of Food and Drugs Act.-Chemist and Druggist.

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8790400092

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

THE ANALYST.. 98 CORRESPONDENCE. [The Editors are not responsible for the opinions of their Correspondents.] To THE EDITOR OF ‘‘ THE ANALYST.” SIR,-AS I was not present on the 15th January last, when the discussion took place on my note on the “ Influence of Age on the Composition of Butter Fat,” I shall be glad to reply by a letter in your columns, more especially as the criticisms were very far from flattering.Dr. Dupr6 says it was ‘‘ unfortunate ” I had published two analyses of some of the butters ; now I think some of your readers who may have read my three contributions on the subject may not be of the same opinion, and I will try to show why I claim exemption from deserving Dr. DuprB’s severe strictures. I think it must be admitted that I clearly show how the figures forming the tables in my first paper were arrived at, the amount of washing, &c., &c., and this paper raised perhaps only two original questions : 1st.Are not the “ Insoluble Acids ” generally somewhat higher than stated by Dr. DuprB? 2ndly. Did volatility in the air-bath account for the lower results? At any rate, these were the only two points questioned in the discussion, and I most willingly admit that both, i.e., my higher ‘‘ insoluble acids ” and observed volatility were suggeated as being accounted for by the extent of the washing ; this I doubted at the time, and hence the experiments communicated in my second note, which went against my opinion, and proved the conjectures of my friends correct, Now, it is certainly more gratifying to find one’s opinion confirmed, yet I cannot recognise any ‘ 6 great moral courage ” in admitting and showing its confutation ; but, observe, I simply admit an error of opinion as to the action of further zoaehing.I by no means accept the extended washing as desirable, leading as it does to an extra loss in the analysis ; only about a third of the bodies so extracted being estimated with soda on the factor in use, and my opinion is still what I expressed at the end of my second note, that I consider the analyses in my first paper show the more correct constitution of butter fat than if the washing be extended.The term ‘‘ insoluble ” can only be applied here in a comparative sense to indicate practical insolubility in water : for continual washing will produce continual diminition to some degree.Washing beyond the extent mentioned in my first paper, which gives a total filtrate of about 600 c.c., extrads only about 6 milligrammes per 100 C.C. I therefore think such extended washing is not worth pursuing, especially as it is mainly lost in the analysis by being reckoned on the factor for butyric acid. The results shown in my third paper of the analyses of the butter fat, after keeping the butters, I say are strictly comparable with the first analyses, being, as there stated, conducted in exaotly the same way with the same washing.How then is the table thrown out and made useless, as stated by Dr. Dupr6 ? The exact niodus operandi is known, the amount of washing is stated, and the effect of extended washing, if any one prefers to pursue it, can be calculated from the second paper.I have not and do not admit the “ insoluble aoids ” in my first paper to be incorrect, and cannot see Dr. DuprB’s authority for stating it. Respecting the results in my third paper, I will only say that there is no mistake about the irregularity of the character of the changes either as to specific gravity or cmstitution of the fat as to soluble and insoluble acids.Yours truly, Wolverhampton, Mu~ch 26th, 1879. E. W. T. JONES. To THE EDITOR OF ‘‘ THE ANLYST.” SIR,-The following notes on the permanganate process of Professbr Tidy imy bc welcome to tjome of your readers :- A permanganate solution was prepared in accordance with his directions on the 3rd of last March ; a large clean crystal of hyposulphite was selected, powdered, dhed in blotting paper, and the necessary quantity weighed off for the standard solution ; 64 septems were required to destroy the blue colour of the iodine in the experiment conducted at the commencement of the three hours ; exactly the same quantity was requisite after one hour, and after three hours.The flasks were in moderate daylight.Repeated experiments have since shown, that under these circumstances, no change whatever takcs place in the weak a c i ~ e d solution of permanganate in distilled water during the period required for one of Tidy’s determinations. On the 20th of March the same solution of permanganate was titrated for another purpose, with freshly prepared decinormd oxalio acid ; ten grain measures, very carefully taken, required 8.2 O.C.of permanganat e .94 THE ANALYST. On the 28th of March the solution was again titrated with ‘‘ hypo.” selected, powdered, and dried as before ; 53 septems of hypo. solution were required. On the 10th of April (this morning) the aolution waa again examined as before, with both ‘‘ hypo.” and decinormal O X ~ ~ C acid ; 53 septems of hypo.solution were required for the 20 septems taken as usual, and ten grain measures of the oxalic acid were oxidized by 8.3 C.C. The “hypo.” was in each case taken from the same batch. It would appear, therefore, that a solution of permanganate of Tidy’s strength can be depended upon for at least a month, at the average temperature of a laboratory in the spring (from 40° to 559 F.).It should be mentioned that the solution which forms the subject of this letter was jealously excluded from the light, and I am of opinion that the commonly accepted idea of the extreme instability of weak permanganate solutions is to be traced to a neglect of this precaution. Since the appearance of Professor Tidy’s paper I have been in the habit of working water analyses in duplicate, by his process and that of Wanklyn, and the impression left on my mind by the limited experience I have had at present is, that, if the latter process be carried out exactly in accordance with the directions of ita author, the agreement in the conclusions to be drawn from the reeultr; of the two methocls will be much closer than it was found to be by Tidy, when working with his considerably modified form of the ammonia process.Shrewsbury, April loth, 1879. Yours, &c., THOS. P. BLUNT, M.A., Oxox., F.C.S. To TEE EDITOR OF ‘‘ THE ANALYST.” Sm,-We observe in THE ANALYST for this month, there is a report of a paper read by Dr. Duprit, before the Society of Public Analysts, upon violet powder, in which the Steamer Over a Globe ” Violet Powder is prominently mentioned. Passing over the fallacies and the erroneous conclusions* contained in the paper, and the questionable proceeding of actually enumerating arsenic, amongst the constituents of different varieties of violet powder, in estimating their respective merits ; to prevent any misunderstanding, we wish to state distinctly as a fact, that the solitary conviction at Lambeth, for selling violet powder, which appears to be Dr.Duprb’s only crumb of comfort on this question, did not refer to our “ Steamer Over a Globe” Violet Powder, or it would have been immediately appealed against ; but, that when that invincible article was brought before the same magistrate, on April 2nd last, after hearing evidence on both sides, Mr. Chance pronounced this Violet Powder uninjurious, that there wag no official formula for violet powder, hence it could not be said to be aditerated ; he dismissed the summons, and also another against a different maker, thus virtually cancelling his former adverse decision, and leaving the article practically victorious in every case. We enclose our card, and remain yours, &c., Tm MANUFACTURERS OF THE “STEAMER OVER A GLOBE” VIOLET POWDER. [* The writers omit to point out what are the fallacies and errone )us conclusions to which they allude. -ED. ANALYST.]

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8790400093

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC

摘要:

94 THE ANALYST. ANALYSTS’ REPORTS. Mr. J. Baynes, Public Analyst for the East Riding of Yorkshire, reports that during the March quarter he examined forty-three samples, of which fourteen were adulterated, vh. : 1 of bread containing 28 grains of alum per 4lb. loaf, but as to which no conviction was obtained owing to the Somerset House Authorities ; 1 of butter containing 20 per cent. of foreign fat; 4 of coffee containing from 16 to 40 per cent.of chicory ; 5 of mustard containing from 6 to 60 of farina ; and 3 of sweet spirits of nitre adulterated with from 26 to 60 per cent. of water. Nr. Baynee also reports that, as Analyst for Scarborough, he examined nine samples during the past quarter, v i a . : 1 of water; 2 of bread; 1 of gin adulterated with 24-8 per cent. of water; 1 of whisky adulterated with 38 per cent.of water ; and 4 of milk, all of which were pure. Mr. Baynes also reports that, as Analyst for Kingston-upon-Hull, he examined three samples of water, and five samples of milk, which latter were not submitted under the Act, but owing to the cattle disease being prevalent. All the samples were unooutsminated. Mr. J. Carter Bell, Public Analyst for Salford, reports that during the past quarter he examined 136 samples, and he found twenty-three adulterated, consisting of 9 samples of milk, 4 of bread, 2 of coffee, and 8 of sweet spirits of nitre.He congratulated the health committee upon the marked improvement in the articles sold in the borough. 66 Some time since,” the report continues, ‘* it was common to findTHE ANALYST.945 bread containing 20, 30, and 40 grains of dun to the 4lb. loaf, a quantity, I believe, suflicient in many cases to be seriously detrimental to health ; whilst now the adulterations are few and far between. Out of the many samples of bread and flour taken, only 4 were adulterated, and that in but’ a small Proportion. Out of 220 samples of milk taken since March, 1878, I found 164 pure, 28 nearly so, and in only 28 cases was there such a departure from the standard as to justify a prosecution.” In a special report of analyses which he had conducted to ascertain the adulteration of flour and bread with alum, Mr.Bell states that owing to the energetic manner in which tho health committee had carried out the Adulteration Act, and particularly through having caused these investigations to be made, the adultera- tion of bread and milk in Salford has sunk almost to a minimum.Mr. J. Carter Bell, Analyst for Cheshire, in his report for the quarter ended 31st March, states that he had examined 178 samples. Of these, 66 were adulterated, namely, 20 of gin, 13 of whisky, 7 of milk, 16 of coffee, 9 of sweet spirits of nitre, and 2 of annatto.Many samples of beer had been analysed during the past six months, and he had examined many of them for cocculus indicus, grains of paradise, tobacco, sulphate of iron, alum, and other noxious ingredients. In some cases such a lengthy examina- tion could not be made, because the quantity of beer sent was too small to permit of a searching investigation.Dr. Emmerson, Public Analyst for Leicestershire, reports that during the past quarter forty-two samples were submitted to him under the Act, via : 14 of arrowroot, varying very much in quality, but all genuine ; 14 of coffee, three of which were mixed nrith chicory; 14 of tea (10 green and 4 mixed)- with the exception of some samples, which were faced to improve the appearance of the teas, they were all genuine and pure.All teas being now examined by the Customs’ authorities, and as tampering with the teas does not take place in this country, it is very rare now to meet with adulteration. The, various samples of food, &c., which he had analysed had steadily improved in purity, and he had no doubt that the periodical visits of the inspectors, and the proceedings instituted under the Act, had proved a protection to the public against adulteration.Mr. A. H. Allen, Publio Analyst for sheffield, in his quarterly report states that he haa examined four specimens of compound tincture of camphor, an official preparation which is largely used by both the medical profession and the public, and which is closely related to the popular remedy known as ‘‘ paregoric.” Three of the samples turned out to be perfectly satisfactory preparations, and with respect to the fourth he found it deficient in dcohol, oil of anise, and benzoic acid, but it contained a proper proportion of opium, and he could express no decided opinion as to the proportion of camphor.The absence or omission of the oil of mise and benzoic acid was in a great measure a consequence of the preparation being made with alcohol deficient in strength.The value of them, in the proportion used, is too slight to be an important consideration. Although the benzoic acid and anise oil have a certain medicinal value and are not added to the tincture without a definite object, the chief remedial agent is the opium, which in the sample in question was present in proper amount.During the past quarter he had also had his attention called to a particular teething and fever powder,” which i E : stated to have produced very violent effects on more than one child to whom it was administered. On examination a sample proved to contain mercury and antimony in medicinal doses. Although the incautious administration of such a remedy might prove dangerous, it appeared that there mas no power of dealing with the matter under the Sale of Food and Drugs Act, as the powders were intended to produce certain medicinal effects, and the inspectors got what they asked for, namely teething powders.ANALYSTS IN DORSETSHIRE.-&fP. Comyns Leach, Public Analyst for Dorset, has just been appointed to the same office for the borough of Weymouth at a salary of $10 per annum, and fees.Mr. George, of Dorchester, was originally an applicant for the office, but withdrew his application. Mr. Jones, Mr. Brierly, Mr. H. L. Hobbs, Mr. A. R. Wilson, Mr. C. E. Cassell, and Mr. A. Angel also applied-all, with the exception of Mr, Brierly, offering their services at tcn guineas per annum, a fee of 10s. 6d. for food analyses, and a fee of a guinea for water analyses. Mr. Brierley asked $40 per annum. Dorchester borough has not yet made its appointment, and in several other boroughs in Dorset the matter is yet in abeyance. AN INNOCENT MAN FOUND GUILTY.--TIM Grocer reports that Mr. Frederick George Innocent was found guilty, and fined 10s. for selling adulterated coffee, We suppose it must be correct since the trade journal announces it,

ISSN:0003-2654    

DOI:10.1039/AN8790400094

出版商:RSC    

年代:1879

数据来源: RSC