Pickles and conned articles of food are often found to contain large quantities of preservatives and of metallic salts. Salts may be derived from the metals of the can or of the solder, in which ease their presence may be due to criminal care lessness. Sometimes, however, metallic salts are added by traders on purpose; green copper salts, for instance, are often found in French peas and in pickles, to which they are added for the pur pose of improving their color. The presence of salts and of preservatives may be detected by chemical analysis. it may also be mentioned here that careless canning may result in putre faction and the formation of highly poisonous organic substances, for the effects of which the manufacturers must be considered responsible.
Drugs are sometimes adulterated by the addi tion of substances resembling the genuine arti cles in outward appearance but having none of their valuable physiological effects. The prac tice can not be denounced too strongly or pun ished too severely. The fraud can usually be detected only by careful chemical examination.
Tobacco is often adulterated with artificial coloring substances and fruit oils, the presence of which may be detected by analysis and is often revealed by the aroma. Snuff is often found to contain considerable amounts of lime and of lead chromate.
Colors and dyes are often adulterated with cheap coloring substances. The fraud can be detected by a careful expert examination.
Textile fabrics are often found adulterated with cheap fibres, with salts, and with excessive amounts of coloring substances. The true value of a fabric can be revealed by chemical analysis. Supposing a given fabric to consist of silk, wool, and cotton, the following facts are taken advan tage of for the purpose of analysis: The eoloring, matter of fabrics is soluble in boiling dilute hydrochloric acid: silk fibre is soluble in a boil ing solution of basic chloride of sine; wool is soluble in a solution of caustic soda ; cotton fibre is practically insoluble in these reagents.
Evidently, by treating the given fabric sueees sively with the several reagents just mentioned, the relative amounts of its constituents may be readily revealed.
Precious metals and coins have been debased by the admixture of cheap metals. the presence of which may be readily detected by a syste matic chemical analysis. Such adulteration has been regarded legally as a very grave otTe se.
Consult: In English. Richards, Food Materials and their Adulterations (Boston, 188(;); Batter shall, Food Adulteration and Its Detection New York, 1887); Wedde•liurn, _1 Popular Treatise on the Extent and Character of Food Adultera tions (Washington, 1890) ; Wcdderbu•n, Special Report on the Extent and Character of Food Including State and Other Laws Relating to Foods and Bercrages (Washington, 1892); Wiley, Richardson. Crampton, and Spen cer, Foods and Food Adulterants, 7 parts (Wash ington, 1887-92); Wedde•burn, Report on the E,rient and Character of Food and Drug adul teration (Washington, 1894) ; Bower. Simple 3lethads for Detecting Food A dultcrations (Lon don, 1895). In French, Burcker, Traite des falsifications et alterations dcs substances ali mentaires et des boissons (Paris, 1892) ; Bellen ger, Manuel de •Inspceti'ur des den rees alimen taircs (Park, 1894) ; Chevallier et Baudrimont, Dietimnnaire des alterations cl falsifications des substances alimentaires, medicamenteuscs et COMniercialrg, aver Findiration des moyens de Ins reconitaitre (Paris, 1893-97). Tn German, Griessmaye•, Die rerfalsehung der wichtigsten Nahrungs- und Gcnussmittel ran rhemisclien Standpunkte in popularer Darstellang (Augs burg, ISSI t ; Dammer, Illustrirtcs Le.rikon der Verfalschungcn and Verunreinigungen der Ara/1r ung.s- tend Genussinittcl. der liolonialicaare», Droguen, geieerblichen 1'rodufte, Dokomente, etc. (Leipzig. 1889). For further bibliography, see United States Internal Rerenue, Series 7, No. 15 (Washington, 1888).