Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-09-07
Wines and Liquors Used.

| am not at all surprised, Mr.. Editor,
to see u disposition TO abaOdon wines from
the sacramentsl tables, when | recJlIect
what a vast amount OF vile limitations OF the
different varieties of liquors called vines, are
10 our markets, and many OF them, | have
no doubt, imported; and go perfect are tue
limitations, that they can only be detected by
chemical tests. Duriug the summer OF 1886,
| analysed a 10; OF liquors for some conscIcn-
tIUus gentlemen Of our own city, who would
not permit me to take samples TO my otnce,
but assisted on my bringing my chemicals
and apparatus to their store that they might
see the operations. | accordingly repaired
to their store, and analysed samples OF 10
different lots. Among them were Port Wine,
Sherry Wine, and Madeira wine. The dis
titled liquors were some pure, and some vile
aud pCrnlciOus imitaIUns; but the wines had
not one drop of tbs juice Of tie grape. Zoe
basis of the Purt wine was diluted suIphur!c
acid, cJlJred with elder berry juice, with
alum, sugar and neutral spirits. Tue base
vi tue SneTry Wine was wort vi pale malt.
sulphurlc acid, prussic acid, from the bite:
almond oil, percentage OF alcoholic spirits
from brandy added. The basis of the Ma
deria was a decoctlon Of hops. with sulphur
lo acid, prus-ic acid, honey, &c spirits from
Jamaica rum. The sane week alter ana!y-
Eng the above and exhibiting the quality aud
character OF the liquors 10 the proprIetors, a
sexton Of one vi our churches informed me
that be had purchased a gallon OF the aoo'e
Port Niae, to be used III his church 90 the
tie ueXt Sabbath, for eaCramgOtal purposes,
aud that for ;hIs vile mixture OF sui phurlc
acii 1. alum, and elder berry juice, he PAD
81 - Per gallcn.
That those wbp do not think Of abandon
ing this de,ikhfil beverage, eith!r as a
drluk for medicinal purposes, or saGrnmentaI
emblems, may he capable If discriminating
between a pure article Of vine, or u mixed
Or a vile imitation OF it, will give a lew re
liable tests, viz: First, heat a small quantity
Of the quid over q sprEi: or oil lamp til tue
varor besios to rise. Ii the liquor be mixed,
Or al imitation with spirits added, by toucI-
ing a lighted taper to It, 1t VIII immediately
tlke fite and continue II burn Til all the
added spirit is burned out of it. II tnen the
ire is increa,oi TIL e5ullItlJn, or bjiilns,
takes place, and the vapor Will burn by tue
Application vi the taper, 1. Is mixed wine -
The innate spirits OF pure wine Will not take
fire uurIi the liquor is brobgnt To bull.
There are mauy other chemical tests "hlch
are inlallib!e, but lew can apply them. !
therefore give the mos simple but RELIABLE.
Second, il an article which Is represented to
DC pure juice, or pure Port wine, should be
suspected. heat as above. Ii the y;por VIII
not burn when first it rises, nor will take ire
from the application Of the taper, when eDul-
lItion is produced, you may rely that there -
not one drop of wine in the sample; aud II,
By holding some OF il 10 your mouth o short
and 8fitr splitting II out you had your
teeth on edge, or upon grinding them toSeth-
cr they appear to adhere, as II the enamel
was sO!tcued, you may rely 90 It that that
article is diluted sulphuric ocid, as a base,
v nth other ingredients to give aroma, &c.
| have given the moduS operdnd OF such
admixtures on the MUCOUS membrane OF the
human system, in iOrmer articles written Oh
the subject Of poisoned liquors, aud shall con.
clude tins with Il request that II yoI tbink Il
will conduca to tie public veal, YOU give
n place 10 the Gizeitc. Very respect
fu!!y, &c, HIRAM Cox, Vi
Chemical Inspector Of Liquors for ll4uiitan
County, Ohio. Cincinnati, Angus, 1898