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179
Vestry, I have examined twenty-six varieties of
Sweets, such as children indulge in. They have for
the most part turned out satisfactorily. Many of
them were as nearly what they professed to be as is
possible. There was only one notable exception.
Certain lozenges, which need not be further specified,
as they were only sold in a few places and have all
been withdrawn from circulation, were found to
contain smalt, or glass colored blue with cobalt, an
adulteration unwittingly introduced by the employment
of common blued starch. Several of the
sweetmeats were not as cleanly manufactured as one
could wish, but this the eye could detect without any
further aid from science.
A certain small number of Butters have been
examined. It would be well if the poor were better
informed upon the point, that very cheap often means
very nasty. The taste of butter is next in importance
to the appearance. Many butters are rancid, and
would be rejected by a person of correct taste.
Much of the rancidity is removable by kneading with
fresh water, and considerable addition may be made
to the weight of butter by the mechanical admixture
of water. All butter is improved by the presence of
a little water about 6 per cent. is a fair quantity.