The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1859-03-22
From the N T. Journal of Commerce.
ADULTERATION OF LIQUORS.

ADULTERAT1ON OF L1QU ORS.
Prohibitory legislation as applicable to the
of intoxicating liquors. has proven signal failure,
at least in populous communities. Ultraism In
this matter has run its course, and we have once
more to return to first principles. 1t may be
questioned whether there has not been positive
retroeression respects the of alcoholic bever
ages, directly attributable to the violent agitation
of the public mind on this subject, and the conse
quent reaction. Certain it is that in many in
all ordinary barriers, erected by society for
its protection from destructive vice, have been
swept away; local ordinances have been annulled,
public sentiment defed Not few breaking
loose from all moral as we'll as legal restraints
have deliberately abandoned themselves to the
most debasing appetites, that now probably
habits OF lntemperance are as wide spread and de-
yastating at any former period
Surveying the field from this stand point, some
of the most noted temperance advocates seem to be
gathering up their shattered forces and giving their
energies more practical direction. We observe
that Edward G Deavan for many years President
of the State Temperance Society, has prepared and
given wide circulation to pamphlet on the adul-
teraton of lquors-a subject which at once COM
mends itself to the consideration Of every philan
thropist TO such an extent has the science of
chemistry been made available of late years, for the
prosecution of this nefarious business, the dealers
in genuine liquors have almost been crushed out
from the competition, and thousands of miserable
Victims under the delusion that they are drinking
at least nothing worse than rectifed spirits, are
plunging rapidly into deirium. There appears to
be no doubt that mortality from this source is ad-
vancng at fearful ratio, especially among the
laborng classes, whose knowledge to the effect
of an habitual use of drugged lqours is too often
only acquired through wretched experience.
Mr. Delavan is assured by medical men, advanced
in life," that the effect of using intoxicating liquors
now is much more fatal than thirty years ago.
Then, liquors, were comparatively pure. The
alcohol in them was the only ingredient with which
the constitution had to contend; and the same
amount of drinking which might formerly have
been indulged with comparative impunity for a
long period, would now produce intemperance and
disease in but fraction of that time. The author
of the pamphlet before us endeavors to establish
the alarming truth that ''among the wines for
commerce now for sale and in in this country,
such an article as the pure, unmixed juice of the
grape is almost if not altogether unknown" He
refers to the printing of receipts for making coun-
tereit liquors of every description, the price Of
one series, designed for Western trade being five
dollars-wines brandy, rum and gin, being made
at pleasure from common whiskey The statement
is made, on the authority of Prof. C. A. Lee, of
New York, that cheap Madeira is made here by
extracting the oils from common whiskey and pass
ing it through carbon. There are immense estab-
shments this city, he says devoted to this branch
of business. Prof Lee further says "The trade in
empty wine casks in this city with the Custom
! House mark and certificates is immense; the same
casks being replenished again and again, and al
ways accompanied by that infall:ble test of gen
! uneness, the Custom House certificate" There
is also in this neighborhood, it is stated, exten
sive manu!actory of wine casks, which are made SC
closely to initiate the foreign, to deceive expe
rienced dealers.
Hiram Cox, NJ. D., of Cincinnati, is quoted as
having anayzed in that city sixteen lots of wines
of different varieties, which did not contain ont
drop of the juice of the grape. The basis of the
Port wine, for example, diluted sulphurlc acid
colored with elderberry juice, with alum: sugar
and neutral spnits. The basis of the Sherry wine
was sort of pale malt, sulphuric acid from thu
bitter almond oil, with per centage OF alchohol'
spirits from brandy. The basis Of the Madeira wa
a decoction of hops, with suphuric acid, honey
spirits of Jamaica rum, &c. President Mott, II
his published lectures inrelation to this subject
speaks of the examination, by the assignee, OF thu
papers of house which had suspended payment
resulting in the dis every that many hundred bar
rels of cider had been pulcLa ed during the previ
Gus years, but none of wine; yet nothing but wine
had been sold. Many other similar facts are re
counted, and extensive quotations made from tor
eicn periodicals and other authorities, showing
that adultcration is pracised in both England ant
France, to an extent not readily credited.
This subject should receive more earnest atten
ton, for it is apparent that the evils of intempe
rance are becoming fearfuly aggravated by tn
substitution of poisonous compounds for the alec
holic liquors formerly used; and the working clas
ses who are the greatest sufferers need to be bette
informed as to the true character of their stimua
ting beverages. Legislation, too, can be employee
with advantage in this direction. One considers
ton entitled to some weight is, that indirect en-
couragement will thus be given to the manufactur
of pure wine from native fruit.