Adulteration of Food.

488 samples of food were analysed by officers appointed under the Inland Revenue Department in 1877; of these 247 were adulterated. Most of the spices page 59 were largely adulterated. Out of 19 specimens of mustard, only one was pure; out of 21 of ginger, 4 were pure, and in 36 specimens of pepper, 30 were found adulterated. Coffee was found largely adulterated with chicory, peas and wheal; out of 44 specimens examined, only 10 were pure coffee. 90 specimens of milk were tested. A little more than a third, 37, were pure. Tea and sugar showed little adulteration, 30 out of 34 samples of sugar were unadulterated, and 44 out of 59 of tea. Paris green was largely mixed with other substances. Only 20 out of 50 samples were pronounced genuine by the analysts. Of the different inspections, 103 were made in Toronto; 55 in Montreal, 24 in Quebec, and 58 in Halifax.