The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-11-17
THE ADULTERA ALTON OF LII
OIIORS

Judge Of Probate should in each count,
appoint competent chemist TO inspectal
alcoholic liquors, imported or manufac
iurcd within the limits Of said county
The unaduIierated article was required
TO be placed IN casks marked "pure," unt
heavy penalty imposed for selling Ii
quor that had not been inspected. |
impure liquor was put in one Of the au-
ihorized casks having tho mark "pure,
thu fraud was punished by imprisnlhen
in the peniten,iaiy.
We observe by the Cincinnati papers
that in Hamilton county at least there is
muclflrouble in procuring an Inspector.
Mr.. Joseph nj. Locke, an analytical
chemist was appoiRtcd, but few days
since sent in his resignation. Mr.. Z. s.
Wayne, another chemist Of repute, was
appointed, aud also declined. 1he.t
reasons for declining to hold the Office Of
inspector are stated in their communica-
lions TO the Judge of Probte. The
main objection is that the law provides no
legal standard by which liquors shall be
a1iadged pure or impure. Thus MIR.
Locke saysi 3 a8aef
sin the law we have not any thing TO
refer 10 as standard for the different
sorts OF liquors, leaving the inspector,
like surveyor with instructions to lay
oul land claims, without any previous
law regulating standard measures.
"Now, different wines Of The same va
triety differ in their character according
10 climate, soils, vineyards, md even pre-
ducts Of The same vineyard in different
years, for example, pure MADEIRA varies
in lis qualify Of alcohol from twenty
three TO eighioeu.per cent. Aud here !
may say the manner at present pursued
in asce,laining the percentage Of ale, .
Iio! is extremely detective; for example
specimen of Sherry (braGd) before dis
'illation had specific gravity Of o9,S79
After distillalion. 09,772
Per cent. Of alcohol. vs. 2l.24
SIT is eviden,, If the per cent, of all
cohol was TO be taken by the density
Of the wine previous to dis,illalion,
(Which is the usual method, the indica-
iion would be a less percentage than
lhe wine really contained, as The solid
resistance in the wine would cuunteracl
the effect Of the alcohol in rendering the
lqnor lighter than water.
"This law also requires the inspector
to mark liquor 'pure,' and therefore
free from all foreign compounds. Now,
this is impossible, as there are many Or
ganic substances which could bs intro
duced into liquors which the chemist
has no means oil detecting, but would
nevertheless, be exceedingly prejudicial
to the article The only remedy that
can conceive would be for the chemis,
TO examine for oil mineral substances,
and those Of the organic compound.
which would be probably used ant
could be detected, then mark the liquor
'legaL' Gas aa e
Mr.. Wayne, in the course of his com.
nuhicaiion declining the appointment,
goes into the matter rsihor more a.,
length, to show that the difficulties in
the inspectors ways were insuperable.
We give some ofihe reasons.
"Firs', that the framera of the law, in
attempting 10 cover TOO much grouud,
have made the law SO indefinite that the
inspector has been furnished with no le.
gal standard. Tie first section Of the
law says 'ihai if any person shall adul-
leraie any spurious or alcoholic liquors
by mixing them with spy substance Of
whatever kind, exoeptas hereafter pros
vided, or if any person shall sell or offar
10 sell any spirituos or alcoholic liquors
knowing the same TO be aduIterated, or
shall sell OF offer TO sell any spurious or
intoxicating liquor not inspected as
hereinafer provided sc.
"Now,,lere isne designation made Of
what those substances shall or shall not
be. thus rendering The Law null and
void. Asno mention is made Of what
may be added. should the inspector; on
examining, report therein foreign sub
stances, who is TO decide whether il is
lawful or unlawful addition, unless sec.
ton six, by which druggists physicians,
and persons engaged in The mechanical