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76 FOOD SUPERVISION.
usually retailed, so that the sale of the latter affords a substantial profit over and above the
legitimate. Although used mainly for cleansing purposes,* washing soda is also used in
certain culinar processes. It was thought that such use would bring the adulteration within
the scope of the Sale of Food and Drugs Acts, reliance being placed on the extended
definition of "food" contained in Section 26 of the Act of 1899. The Magistrate, however,
held that the article did not come within that definition, and dismissed the summonses. In
December last prosecutions were initiated by the Board of Trade against vendors of the
adulterated soda, under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1887, and a conviction obtained. An
appeal against the conviction is now pending.
As to the sample of brandy, adulterated with 25% of foreign alcohol, the circumstances
are as follow:—
In November, 1902, The Lancet published a Report of an Analytical Commission on Brandy,
in which it was shown that it was possible to determine whether a "brandy" was derived from
grape spirit, the proper origin, or from "silent" spirit (i.e. spirit made from grain, potatoes,
etc., bv distillation in a patent still), or was a combination of the two, by a determination
of the "secondary products"—ethers and higher alcohols—the normal proportions of which
were ascertained by analyses of brandies, which were known to be made from grape spirit
and nothing else. Acting on the Report, the Countv Council of Lanark in the following
December caused samples to be purchased, and a test case (brandy containing 65 per cent,
foreign spirit) to be heard. A conviction was obtained which was appealed against:—
Wilson and McPhee v. Wilson (S.L.R. lxi. p. 195). The conviction was upheld. Although the
decision is not binding on English Courts, it has undoubtedly exercised considerable influence
therein.
The sample purchased in the Borough was sold without any verbal declaration of
mixture of spirits, and was wrapped in a plain paper. A small printed label was, however,
found on the bottle stating that the purity of the brandy was not guaranteed (or words to
that effect), and the Solicitor held that no proceedings could be successfully taken.
Silent spirit is not of a character which commends itself to the medical profession as a
harmless drink. Indeed, it usually contains a considerable portion of furfural, which is
distinctly poisonous in its action. The intoxication resulting from excessive consumption of
spirits adulterated with "silent" spirit is marked with greater nervous disturbance, and is
more injurious to the system than that due to alcohol derived from (what may be described
as) natural sources. For medicinal purposes there is no comparison between the two spirits.
The stimulating effects so valuable in shock and exhaustion depend on the ethers and
aldehydes. It is therefore very desirable that brandies should be plainly distinguished—the
name " brandy " being reserved for the spirit derived from grapes, and some other trade term
assigned to blends of "silent" and other spirits, flavoured to resemble brandy.
Nearly all that has been written relating to brandy applies mutatis mutandis to whisky,
and to some extent to rum.
The preceding paragraphs illustrate the difficulty in securing a pure food supplv, which
is experienced, owing to the loop-hole afforded by the "declaration" provisions of the ActsIn
the case mentioned, it was not until the wrapper was removed that any intimation of
admixture was found. The provisions require to be amended to compel a verbal declaration
to be given in everv case.
* The sulphate is quite useless for any such purposes, possessing only purgative properties.