Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1854-11-08
Poisoned LIQUOR.

We have for some time been calling pub
lie attention to the adulterated and poisoned
Liquors now on sale Throughout the Country.
A valuable article on this subject is given in
Hunts Merchants Magazine for September.
1t closes with the following statement of the
manufacture of the spurious article:
'BrGndy.-This liquor is almost universal
ly a base imposition. Tho imported article,
as q general fact, is adulterated. Unadulte-
rated brandy cannot be sold at less than
about $3.50 the gallon the adulterated can
be made at about 80 cents per gallon and so
disguised that no one can tell the differences
The dealer cannot, nor do they, resist the
temptation to adulterate, where the gain is
so Chemical compounds are now
made and sold to fabricators for making spu-
rious brandy out of common whisky ; the
whiskey itself often drugged with arsenic.
"A dealer in spurious brandy recently i'm
ported enough of these compounds, to manu-
facture 800 hogsheads of the forged article.
He sold it for pure at $3.50 the gallon max
ing a clear profit, as he confessed of $780,
900 on the speculation the fabricated article
costing him only about 80 cents a gallon
The fabricator having used up his compound
to his samples, took these, to a chemist in
Massachusetts,, for any analysis, and for the
purpose of having them made in this coun-
try, if possible. The chemist made the ex-
animation, and found one of the samples a
deadly poison he could not be tempted to
have a hand in producing the mixtures
Whether the fabIicator found a chemist less
honest, or had to wait for a new importation,
will not, probably, be known until the day
of judgement, when all such secrets will be
made manifest. Who can begin to estimate
the results of the use of these 800 casks, on
those who, before this time, have probably
drunk them?
Another man who had either imported OF
purchased the same kinds of compounds, is
now in California with them, and he boosted
to a gentleman who mentioned it to the writer
that he should make 100000 out of the Op
Grafton.
"A quantity of French brandy was impor
ted into New York. and advertised for sal
at auction, on q given day it was landed OF
: on the wharf. A brandy fabricator purcha
/ sed the whole lot, of the importer, on tn
> condition that the sale should take place a
a advertised, on has account. During the nigh
: it was all removed to his brandy brewery
underwent the process of adulteratiOn, wa
carted back, and sold next day, pure as I'm
d ported.
"A large dealer in Albany declared tina
when he purchased foreign liquors in Ney
York, on shipboard, he had no confidence i
getting the article purchased, unless h
n watched the casks from the ship to the boa
d on the river. In former years it was suppose
le that imported liquors were generally pure
but now this opinion has exploded. Tn
process of adulteration is carried on to a vas
extern. in Europe, and it is doubtful whethe
ana rol1op - ana hrnIroI 20 londo1 m NJ
shores in a pure state and if in a pure stat
just so far as it is Intoxicating tits WORTHLESS
- and injurious, as a beverage andnone shoul
y, be drank as such by any human being vail
ing long life or a healthful body.
Wine.-Here the fabricators make the
m greatest profits, exercise their greatest skill
n and probably do the greatest amount of il
= jury.
Says DIR. Mott, I had a friend, who ha
been once a wine dealer, and having read tt
startling statements made pnblic, in relate
Z to the brewing of wines, and the adulter
in tions of other liquors, generally, | inquir,
ID of that friend as to the veracity of those stat
ments. His reply was, GOD FORGIV
tchdt has passed ia MY OWN cellar, bat t
v. statements MADE are true and ALL TRUE, l a
sure you.'
IA The process Of adulteratiGn is carried
RI in wine countries, as well as in this countr
40 with regard to Madeira, Sherry, Claret, al
%. all other kinds of wine.
The Rev. DIR. Baird has stated that lit
I'd or no wine is drank in France in a pu
state, except it may be at the wine press.
to The dealers purchase it at the vineyards II
ice pure state, but in their hands it is entire
a changed, by adding drugs or distilled spirit
lr- Says Horatio Greenough, the emlnt
for sculptor, that although wine can be had
the Florence at one cent a bottle, the dealers
not hesitate to add drugs and water, to g
a fraction more of profit
ISL ~Chdmpagne.-A man who once worked
iri- the office where this tract IS printed, IS n
pa- engaged in making champagne for the lad
~ and gentlemen ofthe country, at a cost to
OF two dollars a dozen. Some cider or WI
by Key, some water, some fixed air, some su
lich OF lead, etc. ETC., form the compound. w
this fabricated mixture calculates in the co
try, it is generally sold as pure, and our yol
men often quaf it, at two dollars the bot
oT and an advance on the original cost of Q
Dad, 100 per cent?
on A physician in New York purchase,
and bottle of what was called genuine chamnae
a. Of the importers, had it subjected to chem
'ne tests i: was found to contain a quarter o
tied ounce Of sugar ofleGd. Who would lik.t
drink q mixture of lead and waterf