The following detailed practical method of determining whether a sample of “cider vinegar or apple vinegar” conforms to the requirements of the Statute of April 1885, relating thereto, which requires that it should be not only the legitimate and exclusive product of pure apple juice or cider, but also that it should not fall below the quality of possessing an acidity equivalent to the presence of not less than 4½ per cent. by weight of absolute—that is, monohydrated—acetic acid, and should yield upon full evaporation at the temperature of boiling water not less than 2 per cent. by weight of cider vinegar solids, may prove of interest to those dealing in the article. As the limits set by the Statute are in per cents. by weight, the portion of vinegar taken for the tests should, for perfect accuracy, be also taken by weight—that is, the quantities of 6 and of 10 grammes are to be taken for the tests of strength and of residue; but as taking it by measure, if of about the ordinary atmospheric temperature of 60 to 70 degrees F. will make the apparent percentage at most only 1 to 2 per cent. of itself greater than the true—that is, will make a true 5 per cent. vinegar appear to be, say, from 5·05 to 5·10 per cent.—measuring proves in practice to be accurate enough for all common commercial purposes, and therefore the quantities of 6 and of 10 cubic centimetres by measure may be taken in place of as many grammes.

All the measuring apparatus necessary for making the legal tests is one of the measuring tubes called burettes. It is most convenient to have this of a size to contain 25 to 50 c.c.—that is, cubic centimetres—and have these divided into tenths. The best form of burette is the Mohr’s, which is closed by a glass stop-cock. Besides this, only a dropping-tube, called a pipette, graduated to deliver 6 and 10 c.c., will be needed. These tubes are to be obtained of any philosophical or chemical apparatus dealer, being articles generally kept in stock by them for common use, like yard-sticks.

The only two chemicals needed in determining the strength of a vinegar are such as can be obtained of any competent apothecary in any city of the State. They are simply a small vial of a 1 per cent. solution of Phenol-phthalein in diluted alcohol, and a sufficient quantity of a solution of caustic soda, prepared as directed for “Volumetric Solution of Soda” upon page 399 of the last ‘U. S. Pharmacopœia,’ a book which is in the hands of every competent apothecary, as it contains the formulæ according to which he is required by the law of the State to prepare all such medicinal preparations as are mentioned therein.

Having these, the procedure for making the test will be as follows:—Fill the pipette by suction, and then quickly close the top of it with the forefinger. Raise the tube out of the sample of vinegar, and let it empty out by drops exactly down to the top graduation-mark, this bearing the mark of 0· c.c. Then holding it over a white mug or cup, let it run out exactly down to the 6 c.c. mark. Dilute the 6 c.c. of vinegar thus measured out into the mug with sufficient clean water to make it look about white, and then add to it about three drops of the Phenol-phthalein solution. Then having prepared the burette by filling it up to the top, zero, or any other noted mark of the graduation, with the volumetric solution of soda, let the soda solution run out cautiously into the diluted vinegar, which should be constantly stirred about. As soon as the vinegar in the mug begins to darken, the soda should then only be allowed to run into it by drops. This dropping is thus continued until at last a final drop of soda turns the vinegar suddenly to a permanent pink or cherry colour, which will not disappear upon further stirring. By now reading off from the graduations of the burette the number of full c.c. divisions and of tenths which have been emptied out to bring about this change of colour in the vinegar is known the per cents. and tenths of acidity equivalent to true acetic acid contained in the vinegar being examined. This, if it is a pure cider vinegar, and well made, will be upon the average about 6 per cent., but never under 5 per cent. If, in like manner, 10 c.c. of the vinegar is exactly measured off by the pipette into a small light porcelain dish, and then evaporated fully to dryness over boiling water, the number of grammes weight gained by the dish, when multiplied by ten, gives the percentage of solid residue contained in the vinegar.

There are certain characteristics peculiar to the residue of a pure cider vinegar, the principal of which are the following:—It will be about 3 per cent. in weight, and never less than 2 per cent. It is always soft, viscid, of apple flavour, somewhat acid and astringent in taste. A drop of it taken up in a clean loop of platinum or of iron wire, and ignited in a colourless Bunsen gas-lamp flame, imparts to it the pale lilac colour of a pure potash salt, without any yellow, due to sodium, being visible. The ignited residue left in the loop of wire will be a fusible bead of quite a good size, and it will have a strong alkaline reaction upon moistened test-paper, effervescing briskly when immersed in an acid. The presence in a vinegar of the slightest trace of any free mineral acid will prevent the ignited residue having any alkaline reaction, or effervescing with acids. The presence of any practical amount of commercial acetic acid added to “tone up” the strength of the vinegar will cause the igniting residue to impart another colour to the Bunsen flame, and the residue itself will have a smoky pyroligneous taste or odour. Any corn glucose used in the vinegar will cause its residue when ignited to emit the characteristic odour of burning corn, and, as the last spark glows through the carbonised mass, to usually emit the familiar garlic odour of arsenic, for the common oil of vitriol usually used in the production of glucose is now mostly derived from pyrites, which almost always contain arsenic. A glucose vinegar which has been made without vaporising the alcohol after the fermentation of the glucose will also have a strong reducing action upon a copper salt in an alkaline solution, and also will give a heavy precipitation of lime with ammonium oxalate. A true malt vinegar always contains phosphates, and a wine vinegar cream of tartar. The presence of any acrid vegetable substance in a vinegar is known by the residue having a pungent taste, especially if before the evaporation the vinegar has been exactly neutralised with soda.

In a pure apple cider vinegar hydrogen sulphide gas will not cause any discoloration, nor will the addition of a solution of either barium nitrate, silver nitrate, or ammonium oxalate cause anything more than the very slightest perceptible turbidity. But the addition of some solution of lead acetate—that is, of sugar of lead—will cause an immediate voluminous and flocculent precipitation, which will all settle out in about ten minutes, leaving a clear fluid above. In most of the so-called “apple vinegars,” made with second pressings of the fermenting pumice, the addition of some of this lead solution will cause but a slight turbidity, without any precipitate settling out for several hours, and even then the precipitate will not be of the same appearance as in apple cider vinegar.

Sophistications of cider vinegar that will not be detected by some one or more of the above given tests are not likely to be met with, for the simple reason that they are not profitable. To translate percentages of acid strength into the old commercial terms of grains of soda bicarbonate per troy ounce, the per cent. may be multiplied by 6·72, or, vice versâ, divide the grains by the same factor. To reduce it into grains of potash bicarbonate 8 would be the factor to be used in like manner.

Duties of Inspectors.

1. The inspector is to buy samples of food or drugs, and to seal each sample in the presence of a witness.

2. The inspector must affix to each sample a label bearing a number, his initials, and the date of purchase.

3. Under no circumstance is the inspector to inform the analyst as to the source of the sample before the analysis shall have been completed and formally reported to the President or Secretary of the State Board of Health.

4. Inspectors are to keep a record of each sample as follows:—

5. If the seller desires a portion of the sample, the inspector is to deliver it under seal. The duplicate sample left with seller should have a label containing the same marks as are affixed to the portion taken by the inspector.

6. The inspector is to deliver the sample to the analyst, taking his receipt for the same, or he may send it by registered mail, express or special messenger.

Duties of the Analysts.

1. The analyst is to analyse the samples immediately upon receipt thereof.

2. Samples, with the exception of milk and similar perishable articles, are to be divided by the analyst and a portion sealed up, and a copy of the original label affixed. These duplicates are to be sent to the Secretary of the State Board of Health at the end of each month, and to be retained by him until demanded for another analysis, as provided for in section 3 of these Rules.

3. Should the result obtained by any analyst be disputed in any case, an appeal may be made to the State Board of Health, through its secretary, by the defendant or person selling the sample, or his attorney, and said secretary shall then require another member of the Committee of Public Analysts to repeat the analysis, using the duplicate sample for such purpose. But when an appeal shall be made, a sum of money sufficient to cover the expenses of the second analysis shall be deposited with the President of the State Board of Health, which sum shall be paid over to the analyst designated by the President and Secretary of the Board to perform the second analysis, in case the analysis shall be found to agree with the first in all essential particulars.

4. In the case of all articles having a standard of purity fixed by any of the laws of the State, the certificate of the analyst should show the relation of the article in question to that standard.

5. Where standards of strength, purity or quality are not fixed by law, the Committee of Analysts shall present to the State Board of Health such standard as in their judgment should be fixed.

6. Each analyst should keep a record book, in which should be entered notes, as follows:—

This record should be produced at each meeting of the committee.

7. At the completion of the analysis a certificate in the form given below should be forwarded to the person from whom the sample was received, and a duplicate copy sent to the State Board of Health.

Certificate.

To whom it may concern.

I, __________________, a member of the Committee of Public Analysts, appointed by the State Board of Health of New Jersey under the provisions of an Act entitled “An Act to prevent the adulteration of food and drugs,” approved March 25th, 1881, do hereby certify that I received from __________________, on the _____ day of _____________, 188__, a sample of _____________, sealed as require by the rules of said Board, and bearing the following marks, to wit: _________________________________________________________________________________________

I carefully mixed said samples and have analysed the same, and hereby certify and declare the results of my analysis to be as follows:_________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________[Signature.]

Exceptions.

The following exceptions are adopted:—

Mustard.—Compounds of mustard, with rice flour, starch, or flour, may be sold if each package is marked “Compound Mustard,” and if not more than 25 per cent. of such substance is added to the mustard.

Coffee.—Compounds of coffee with chicory, rye, wheat, or other cereals, may be sold if the package is marked “A Mixture,” and if the label states the per cent. of coffee contained in said mixture.

Oleomargarine and other imitation dairy products may be sold if each package is marked with the name of the substance, and in all respects fulfils the terms of the special law as to these.

Syrups.—When mixed with glucose, syrup may be sold if the package is marked “A Mixture.”

States.

California.

“An Act to prevent the sale of oleomargarine, under the name and pretence that the said commodity is butter.”

This law is restrictive, requires the word “oleomargarine” to be branded on the package.

The penalty is from fifty dollars to two hundred dollars, or imprisonment from fifty to two hundred days, or both.

“An Act to prevent fraud and deception in the sale of butter and cheese.”

This law is restrictive, requiring the article to be manufactured and sold under its appropriate name.

Penalty is from ten dollars to five hundred dollars or imprisonment from ten to ninety days, or both.

Approved, March 2, 1881.

“An Act to prevent the sale or disposition as butter of the substance known as ‘oleomargarine,’ or ‘oleomargarine butter,’ and when ‘oleomargarine’ or ‘oleomargarine butter’ is sold or disposed of requiring notice thereof to be given.”

This law is restrictive, requiring branding, also requiring hotel-keepers, etc., to keep posted up in their places of business in three places, the words “oleomargarine sold here.”

Penalty from five dollars to five hundred dollars, or imprisonment for not more than three months, or both such fine and imprisonment.

Approved, March 1, 1883.

“An Act to protect and encourage the production and sale of pure and wholesome milk, and to prohibit and punish the production and sale of unwholesome or adulterated milk.”

This law makes it a misdemeanour to sell or expose for sale adulterated or unwholesome milk, or to keep cows for producing the same in an unhealthy condition, or feeding them on feed that will produce impure milk, etc.

Penalty is one hundred dollars for the first offence, and double that amount for each subsequent offence.

Approved, March 12, 1870.

Colorado.

“An Act to encourage the sale of milk, and to provide penalties for the adulteration thereof.”

This law makes it a misdemeanour to sell adulterated milk or milk from which the cream has been taken, or for withholding the strippings without the purchasers being aware of the fact.

Penalty is from twenty-five dollars to one hundred dollars, or imprisonment for six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

In force, May 20, 1881.

“An Act to regulate the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine, butterine, suine or other substances made in imitation of, or having the semblance of butter, and to provide penalties for the violation of the provisions hereof.”

This law requires that a license shall be necessary to manufacture, import, or sell oleomargarine or kindred products within the State. License to manufacture or import not less than one thousand; license to sell not less than five hundred.

Penalty from fifty dollars to five hundred dollars, or imprisonment not to exceed one year or both.

Approved, April 6, 1885.

Connecticut.

“An Act concerning the sale of oleomargarine and other articles.”

This law requires that the article shall be properly branded, and that the seller shall keep a sign posted up in his place of business that such commodity is sold there.

Penalty seven dollars, or imprisonment from ten to thirty days or both.

Approved, April 4, 1883.

Delaware.

“An Act to regulate the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine.”

This law is restrictive in its nature.

Penalty fifty dollars, commitment until the fine is paid.

Approved, February 10, 1879.

“An Act to amend chapter 154, volume 16, Laws of Delaware.”

This amendment has reference to the fact that the substance manufactured is “artificial butter.”

Passed, March 21, 1883.

Florida.

Chapter 80, sections 34-35, McClellans’ Digest, 1881.

Section 34 makes it a misdemeanour to sell spurious preparations as butter; section 35 has reference to hotels and boarding-houses.

Penalty, not to exceed one hundred, or imprisonment not to exceed thirty days, or both.

Illinois.

“An Act to prevent and punish the adulteration of articles of food, drink and medicine, and the sale thereof when adulterated.”

Section 3 of this law has reference to colouring matter in food, drink or medicine.

Section 4 of this law has reference to mixing oleomargarine with butter, cheese, etc., requiring the seller to inform the buyer of the fact and the proportion of the mixture.

Penalty, first offence, twenty-five dollars to two hundred dollars; second offence, one hundred dollars to two hundred dollars, or imprisonment from one to six months or both; third offence, from five hundred dollars to two thousand dollars and imprisonment not less than one year nor more than five years.

Approved, June 1, 1881.

“An Act to require operators of butter and cheese factories on the co-operative plan to give bonds, and to prescribe penalties for the violation thereof.”

This law requires the filing of a bond in the penal sum of six thousand dollars that certain reports will be made on the first of each month and a copy filed with the town clerk, etc.

Penalty, from two hundred dollars to five hundred dollars, or imprisonment from thirty days to six months, or both.

Approved, June 18, 1883.

Indiana.

Section 2071, Revised Statutes. “Selling unwholesome milk.”

This section provides against the sale of unwholesome milk, whether from adulteration or from the feed given the cows; also against the use of poisonous or deleterious material in the manufacture of butter and cheese.

Penalty, from fifty dollars to five hundred dollars.

“An Act to prevent the sale of impure butter, and the keeping on any table at any hotel or boarding-house of impure butter, providing penalties declaring an emergency.”

This law requires the branding with the word “oleomargarine.”

Penalty from ten dollars to fifty dollars.

Approved, March 3, 1883.

Iowa.

Section 4042, Code.

This section provides against the adulteration of milk in any way.

Penalty, twenty-five dollars to one hundred dollars, and makes the offender liable in double that amount to the party injured.

“An Act to protect the dairy interests and for the punishment of fraud connected therewith.”

This law requires that “oleo” and kindred products shall be branded with the word “oleomargarine.”

Penalty, from twenty dollars to one hundred dollars or imprisonment from ten to ninety days.

“An Act to prevent and punish the adulteration of articles of food, drink, and medicine, and the sale thereof when adulterated.”

This law provides that skimmed milk cheese shall be so branded, and when oleomargarine is mixed with any other substance for sale it shall be distinctly branded with the true and appropriate name.

Penalty, first offence, from ten dollars to fifty dollars; second, from twenty-five dollars to one hundred dollars, or confined in the county jail not more than thirty days; third, from five hundred dollars to one thousand dollars and imprisonment not less than one year nor more than five years.

Maryland.

“An Act to repeal the Act of 1883, chapter 493, entitled ‘An Act for the protection of dairymen, and to prevent deception in the sale of butter and cheese, and to re-enact new sections in lieu thereof.’”

This law requires that substances made in semblance of butter and cheese not the true product of the dairy shall be branded with the word “oleomargarine” so as to be conspicuous, and that the buyer shall be apprised of the nature of the article that he has bought.

Penalty, one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not less than thirty or more than ninety days for the second offence, and not less than three months nor more than one year for the third offence.

Approved, April 8, 1884.

Maine.

“An Act to amend chapter 128 of the Revised Statutes, relating to the sale of unwholesome food.”

This law is prohibitive as to oleomargarine and kindred products.

Penalty, for the first offence one hundred dollars, and for each subsequent offence two hundred dollars, to be recovered with costs.

Massachusetts.

This State has a law against selling adulterated milk.

Penalty, for first offence, fifty dollars to one hundred dollars; for the second offence, one hundred dollars to three hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for thirty to sixty days; and for each subsequent offence, fifty dollars and imprisonment from sixty to ninety days.

Michigan.

“An Act to prevent deception in the manufacture and sale of dairy products and to preserve the public health.”

This law prohibits the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine and kindred products.

Penalty, two hundred dollars to five hundred dollars or not less than six months’ nor more than one year’s imprisonment, or both, for the first offence, and by imprisonment for one year for each subsequent offence.

Approved, June 12, 1885.

Minnesota.

“An Act to prohibit and prevent the sale or manufacture of unhealthy or adulterated dairy products.”

This law prohibits the sale of impure or adulterated milk.

Penalty, twenty-five dollars to two hundred dollars, or imprisonment from one to six months, or both for the first offence, and six months’ imprisonment for each subsequent offence.

This law also prohibits the manufacture and sale of oleaginous substances or compounds of the same.

Penalty, from one hundred dollars to five hundred dollars, or from six months’ to one year’s imprisonment, or both, such fine and imprisonment for the first offence, and by imprisonment one year for each subsequent offence.

Approved, March 5, 1885.

Missouri.

This State passed the first prohibitory law.

Penalty, confinement in the county jail not to exceed one year, or fine not to exceed one thousand dollars, or both.

Nebraska.

Section 2345, “Skimmed milk or adulterated milk.”

This section provides against the sale of adulterated milk, and makes a penalty of from twenty-five dollars to one hundred dollars and be liable to double the amount to the person or persons upon whom the fraud is perpetrated.

New Hampshire.

“An Act relating to the sale of imitation butter.”

This law provides that no artificial butter shall be sold unless it is coloured pink.

Penalty, for the first offence, fifty dollars, and for a second offence a fine of one hundred dollars. “A certificate of the analysis sworn to by the analyser shall be admitted in evidence in all prosecutions.”

“The expense of the analysis, not exceeding twenty dollars, included in the costs.”

New Jersey.

Law similar to the New York law.

Ohio.

This State has a law that is prohibitory except as to oleomargarine made of beef suet and milk.

Penalty, one hundred dollars to five hundred dollars, or from three to six months’ imprisonment, or both, for the first offence; and by such fine and imprisonment for one year for each subsequent offence.

Passed, April 27, 1885.

Oregon.

The law in this State provides against adulterated and unwholesome milk, against keeping cows in an unhealthy condition, and against feeding them upon unhealthful food.

It also provides that oleaginous substances sold upon the market shall be so branded as to distinguish them from the true dairy product; and that in hotels, boarding-houses, restaurants, etc., where such substances are used as an article of food, the bill of fare shall state the fact, and that the name of the said substance shall be posted up in the dining-room in a conspicuous place.

Passed, February 20, 1885.

Pennsylvania.

“An Act to protect dairymen, and to prevent deception in sales of butter and cheese.”

This act requires the branding of imitation butter and cheese.

Penalty, one hundred dollars. Violations of this Act by exportation to a foreign country are punished by a fine of from five dollars to two hundred dollars, or by imprisonment from ten to thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Approved, May 24, 1883.

“An Act for the protection of the public health and to prevent adulteration of dairy products and fraud in the sale thereof.”

This law prohibits the sale of oleomargarine and kindred products.

Penalty, one hundred dollars to three hundred dollars, or by imprisonment from ten to thirty days for the first offence, and by imprisonment for one year for each subsequent offence.

Approved, May 21, 1885.

Rhode Island.

“Of the sale of butter, potatoes, onions, berries, nuts, and shelled beans.”

This law provides that artificial butter shall be stamped “Oleomargarine,” and that the retailer shall deliver to the purchaser a label upon which shall be the word “Oleomargarine.”

Penalty, one hundred dollars.

Tennessee.

Code of 1884, chapter 14, sections 2682, 2683, 2684.

This law requires that the substance shall be manufactured under its true and appropriate name, and that it shall be distinctly branded with the true and appropriate name.

Penalty, from ten dollars to three hundred dollars, or imprisonment from ten to ninety days.

Vermont.

“An Act to prevent fraud in the sale of oleomargarine and other substances as butter.”

This law provides that oleomargarine and kindred products shall not be sold as butter.

Penalty, five hundred dollars.

Approved, November 1884.

Chapters 192, Laws of 1874, 76 of 1870, 51 of 1855, provide against the adulteration of milk.

Virginia.

Code of Virginia, 1873, chapter 865, title 26, section 56.

“Provision against adulterating milk intended for the manufacture of cheese.”

This law provides against the adulteration of milk carried to cheese manufactories, etc.

Penalty, from twenty-five dollars to one hundred dollars, with costs of suit.

West Virginia.

Chapter 41, Acts of West Virginia, 1885.

“An Act to prevent the manufacture and sale of mixed and impure butter and cheese and imitations thereof.”

This law requires that the true and appropriate name of the substance shall be printed thereon, etc.

Penalty, from ten dollars to one hundred dollars, or imprisonment.

Wisconsin.

Section 1494, chapter 61, Revised Statutes.

This Act provides that no cream shall be taken from the manufactory where it is being worked up, also that the persons manufacturing cheese at factories shall keep certain records.

Chapter 361, R. S.

“An Act to prevent the manufacture and sale of oleaginous substances or compounds of the same in imitation of the pure dairy products, and to repeal sections 1 and 3 of chapter 49 of the laws of 1881.”

This law prohibits the manufacture and sale of oleomargarine and kindred products.

Penalty, not to exceed one thousand dollars, or imprisonment not to exceed one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Published, April 13, 1885.

Territories.

Arizona.

“An Act to regulate the sale and manufacture of oleomargarine or other substitutes for butter in the Territory of Arizona.”

This law requires that oleomargarine and kindred substances sold in the territory shall be appropriately branded with the word “oleomargarine.” And that the seller shall deliver to the purchaser a printed label on which is the word “oleomargarine.” Also that dealers shall keep posted up in their places of business this sign, “Oleomargarine sold here.”

Penalty for the first offence not less than five dollars, for the second offence not less than one hundred dollars or imprisonment for sixty days, and for each succeeding offence five hundred dollars and imprisonment for ninety days.

Approved, March 8, 1883.

Dakota.

“An Act to secure the public health and safety against unwholesome provisions.”

This law requires that all oleaginous substances shall be branded with their true and proper names. Costs of analyses, not exceeding twenty dollars, shall or may be included in the costs of prosecutions.

Penalty, first offence, one hundred dollars, and every subsequent offence, two hundred dollars.

Passed at the session of 1883.