SACCHARINE PROHIBITED IN FRANCE.
THE following is an abstract of the preamble of the bill now before the French Chamber prohibiting the importation of saccharine into France: "The attention of the administration has been directed to a new coal tar product known as saccharine. This substance, which differs essentially in its elementary composition from vegetable sugars, possesses much greater sweetening power, a quality that was sure to lead to its being used as a substitute for sugar in many cases. We learned from our consular agencies abroad that factories were being established in certain countries for the purpose of bringing saccharine into competition with beet and cane sugar, not only in France, but also in other neighboring markets. The high cost of that substance seemed to constitute an insuperable obstacle to its general adoption, but lately the situation has changed. It can now be more cheaply produced, and already it is extensively used, mixed with glucose, in the preparation of jams, sirups, and liquors. It has, therefore, become an urgent necessity to provide a remedy for the evil, in the interests of the customs receipts and that of the health of the consumer; for it has been shown by the report of Drs. Brouardel, Pouchet, and Ogier, in the name of the Consulting Committee of Hygiene, that saccharine, and the various preparations derived from it, are noxious to health, and ought to be prohibited. Wherefore, the Government has deemed it expedient to prohibit the importation of saccharine and saccharined substances."—Scientific American.