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as to the phosphates, and this applies especially to children; the
phosphates can, however, be readily supplied in skim-milk, and it
is a pity that so cheap an article is not more sought after.
An Oatmeal of excellent quality reminds one of an article of
great value to all. It is cheap, digestible, and very rich in
nitrogen and phosphates.
Malt Liquors, 6 in number, have been examined. Where the
extractive is considerable, the ales and porters keep best, but of
course everything depends upon the quality of the extractive.
The keeping qualities vary so much. Some malt liquors become
sour and mouldy in three days; others keep well for a week under
precisely similar circumstances. Salt was uniformly present to
the extent of, respectively, 35, 39, 42, and 46 grains per gallon.
In all, the quantity was well kept under. In the case of a mild
Burton Ale, only 152/3 grains were contained in the gallon. Where
the chlorides are very high, either the water, or the inferior sugar
used, is at fault.
Five Spirits analysed showed that, with one exception, the
percentage of alcohol was up to, and even beyond, the legal
standards. The amount of alcohol in wines and spirits is of great
importance, and there is far greater certainty in them as to the
result to those who value them. There is naturally great evil in
spirit drinking, but many people do not realize what an enormous
and injurious amount of alcohol is taken in copious draughts of
beer.
Two samples of Cider, one on draught, the other bottled, were
both very good of their kind. Neither of them contained a trace
of metallic contamination, and both of them possessed a most
pleasant odour of apples. Five per cent, of proof spirit rendered
them agreeable and cooling; the bottled cider was the preferable,
in that it was less sweet and less liable to acescence.
A Lemonade was well aerated, sufficiently though feebly
acidulated, but with the common defect of containing a trace of
lead.
Another non-alcoholic drink, very much thought of at the present
time, answers to its description. It is a tonic, and very well
aërated, containing as it does double its volume of carbonic acid.