The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1859-05-05

STRYCHNIA WHIsKEY.-The following article by
MIR. b. 5. Wayne, ofCincinnati, vouched for by the
Prtee Current as ''an accomplished Chemist" ap-
pears In the Druggist, a new publication started in
that city:
Strychnta-ddeged use Of by DistiUers.-The al
legged use of stry CHINA by dstillers as said
the purpose of increasing their yield of whiskey
an ldea started up some time since and almost or
gotten, seems again about being resusctated
through the agency of divers newspapers both at
home and abroad, whose writers, without knowing
anything OF the nature of the substance they are
writing OF, that it is poison or of the theory
of alcoholic fermentation and also without making
proper Investigations respecting either boldly make
the assertion and one without array of truth to SUBJ
stantiate it.
Strychna can be of no possible use to the dis
tller 1T will not aid him in the fermentation of his
mash, nor can he from the elements of the sub
stance produce alcohol and to be OF any practical
benefit to him, 1t must be in one or the other of
the ways mentioned.
Again, granting that he does use it. either in his
mash tub, in his still, the liquor obtained would
be perfectly free from strychnia as it is non-yoa
tile substance and the same quantity that he placed
in either would be found intact at the end of the
process. Such being the facts in the case of what
oenetit would be the use of it to him None 1t is
not supposed that he adds it to his liquor after it is
distilled as the quantity he could use would be so
minute that the bulk of it would not be increased
and the peculiar and intense bitterness of the sub
stance would exclude the use of it in anv uuan-
tlty; three grains of strychnia in barrel of whis
Key, would lmpart very perceptibe bitterness to
the whole OF it, and the detection of by the chem
lst an easy task.
Nor would it give it fictitious per cent of alco-
hoIc strength. In possible manner can it be
used by the distiler to his advantage; or if used
either In his mash tub or his STILL would the whis-
Key contain any of it; and the idea that he puts it
IN his whskey, after it is made is too ridiculous to
waste time upon
How this idea originated, strychnio IN ,rhiskey it
is impossible to conjecture save it was through the
charge made against the brewers of London some
three or four years since, Of their using it or nux
vomica, for imparting the bitterness to their ale,
winch charge was proven to be false, through the
analys of Professors Hoffman, Graham and Lie
big, and the whole of which report and ANALYSIS was
published in this country
The dlstlllers are innocent of the charge and
have enough to answer for, certainly without this
one being placed to their account and 7 have mn
doubt, are perfectly satisfied with the potency of
their beverage, Red Eye and Rifle Whiskey (said
to Kill at forty yards, and made without the aid of
strychna.
INTERESTING Fossils Charleston papers give an
account OF the discovery by DR.. klipstein, on his
premises in Christ Church Parish, of a number of
interesting fossils. The surrounding country is
undulating, remarkably so for the low country of
South Carolina, the immediate spot being the re-
claimed bed of pond of former ages within A
narrow belt OF elevations along the sea shore There
had been rank growth Of juniper, cedar and will
low on this spot, which was only cleared few
years ago. About two years since, DR.. Klipstein
IN making an excavation for ditch across this
place, threw up middle upper tooth of ntastodon
and two teeth of horse, all fossils.
No further excavations were made until recently
when Prot. Holmes, in the interval of his labors in
cldent to his intended publications, embracing the
Ashley river discoveries, with few friends made
an excursion to the spot, expecting to find the skel
eton of mastodon. A short work suficed to un-
cover piece OF nldstodOn'S tusk, eighteen inches
in length, which had been broken off. On the op-
posltee side of the ditch, dug two years ago, was
found additional remains of the same tusk which
Is the tusk on the right of the snout measuring in
all over six feet in length Beside the root or base
OF the tusk was found portion of the socket bone
OF the mdstodonS snout, into which the tusk accu.
ratey fitted. This bone is in fair state of nreser
yaton; but the tusk, being of ivory is very fragile
but still beautifully presents the peculiar structure
OF the ivory. Additional teeth were found com
pletlng the right upper jaw. The smallest anterior
grinder is three inches in length and two in breadth
The posterior tooth is monster, though not whole
when complete it measured seven and a half inche!
in length, by three and half in breadth, and wa.
composed of three papiip.
While uncovering these remains, Prof Holmes
discovered the left temur of the Cerrus Fiy0,nidnd
the common deer which still roams our forests. and
an edge of the shell of an Emys, fresh water tur
tie or terrapin. Among them was discovered 6
fragment oil pottery, the manufacture of some early
aoorlglnes OF South Carolina. The hard portion O
the bones only are preserved, the adjacent soil be
ing stained with the decayed bones and other ele
ments of these animals
The soil in which these fossils were foundi is abou
foot in depth of pure muck or vegetable matter
overIylng thin strip of quicksand. Burrs of thu
pine, and traces OF several trees, abound in it, Be
meath these fossils well as about and above them
were the branches of cedar trees and the burrs ant
leaves of the pine. The ivory tusk was of brilliap
black, when first exhumed, but it blues by exposure
to the light.