THE "CALIFORNIA COLD PROCESS."
By Editor
THERE is more or less advertised at the present time the "California Cold Process," an acid preparation for preserving fruits. This we noticed in the SIGNS something like a year ago, and gave at that time the unprejudiced testimony of Prof. E. W. Hilgard, of the State University, as to the worth of the preparation. After speaking of a name by which it is called, "Compound Extract of Salyx," he says:— The name of this "Compound Extract" is incautiously suggestive of salicylic acid. An examination of the sample fruit distributed by the canvassers accordingly shows, in the liquid around the fruit, one-third of one per cent of salicylic acid, which, of course, is well known to preserve fruit, as well as other vegetable and animal matter, but is better adapted to the preparation of show specimens than to preserve for human consumption. Doubtless there are persons who may for some time take such doses of the well-known preservative with impunity. There are others with whom its use would in a short time create very serious disorders of the digestion; and there are those whose digestion is stopped, point blank, when such "preserves" are eaten. Anyone is at liberty to take his choice as to which of the above classes he considers himself as belonging, and may take his dose of medicine with his dessert, if he chooses. But should anyone desire to do so, it is quite unnecessary for him to pay the "Ohio Fruit Company" at the rate of $8.00 a pound for what he can get at retail for $1.50. Nor need he be alarmed about the fruit company's threat of prosecution. The use of salicylic acid (elsewhere forbidden by sanitary regulations) is guarded by no patent, and never has been; that of "Coffee C" sugar prescribed by the company certainly is not. All are therefore at liberty to sweeten their fruit according to taste, and to spice it with the antiseptic acid without asking leave of anybody.