=Arrowroot.=—Often mixed with cheaper starches. Twenty-three samples examined: seventeen were arrowroot, one was arrowroot and tapioca, two arrowroot, tapioca, and potato, and three tapioca and potato. Harmless. (E. G. Love, Ph. D.) =Bakers’ chemicals.=—(Saleratus.) This was originally bicarbonate of potash, but the name is now applied to the bicarbonate of soda. Twenty samples: none adulterated.—(Baking-soda.) Twenty-three samples: twenty samples unadulterated. One contained 25 per cent of gypsum; one same quantity of gypsum and a little starch; one a large amount of sulphate of soda and 17 per cent of carbonate of lime.—(Cream of tartar.) This is the bitartrate of potash. Twenty-seven samples: sixteen adulterated and in some not a particle of cream of tartar found. Six adulterated with terra alba (gypsum) and starch, one with starch alone, two with starch, terra alba, and acid phosphate of lime. Six had tartaric acid and no cream of tartar. In eight the amount of terra alba was found to vary from 3.27 to 93 per cent. Five samples contained over 70 per cent of this injurious adulteration. (Love.) =Baking-powders.=—Contain bicarbonate of soda and some acid or acid salt, which combine when water is added and evolve carbonic-acid gas. There are four classes in use. One contains cream of tartar, one tartaric acid, one the acid phosphate of lime, and one potash or ammonia alum. Many powders contain a salt of ammonia. The pungent odor of this substance prevents its use in any but the smallest quantities, and it can not affect the wholesomeness of the powder. Flour or starch forms an ingredient of many powders to prevent a premature combination of its constituents and a consequent deterioration of the powder. Eighty-four samples: seventy-three had flour or starch; thirty-five contained ammonia. Eight adulterated with terra alba, phosphate of lime, or tartrate of lime. As a rule, these powders are harmless. (Love.) (Alum.) There does not seem sufficient evidence as to the injurious effects of alum upon the human system to warrant legislation against it. (Love.) =Beer.=—Most adulterations are harmless. Corn, rice, wheat, glucose, starch, potatoes, etc., are used in making beer, and in many countries are allowed by special laws (as in England and Germany). The use of substitutes for hops within the last few years is hardly possible to believe, since hops have been so cheap, in fact, almost the cheapest bitter, and are, moreover, as every brewer knows, the best material to preserve his beer. (F. E. Engelhardt, Ph. D.)