Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-02-25
AdalteratiOn of LIQuOrs.

The effort to prohibit the use of intcxies'ing
liquors having proved a signal failure in those
Northern States where it has been tried, some of
the most noted temperance savocatss are giving
their energies a far more practical dirtc ion
We observe, says the New York JOayadl Of Cons
msree, that Edward C. Delavau, for many years
President Of The Sta,e Temperance Ssciety, has
prepared and given wide circulation to pamphlet
Oh the sdulteration of LgIors, subject which at
once conmends itself TO the cansidera ion of every
philanthropist To such aE extent has the science
Of chemistry been made svsi abe Of late years,
for the prosecution Of this nefsrious business that
dealers in genuine liquors have almost been crushed
out from the competition, and thousands Of misera-
bic victims, under the deusion that they are drink
ing at least nothing worse than rectifed spirits,
are Plunging rapidly into delirium. There appears
to be no doubt that mortality from this source is
advancing 81 g fearful ratio especially among the
lAbOring classes, knowledge as to the effect of
habual use Of druggsd liquors is too often only
acquired through wretched experience Mr.
De avan is assured by '' medical men advanced in
life" that the effect Of intoxicating liquors now is
much more fatal than thirty years ago. Then,
liquors were comparatively pure. The alcohol in
th"m was the only Ingredient with which the eonsi-
tuition had to contends; and the same amount of
drinking which might formerly have been INDUCED
with comparative impunity for long period, would
now produce inempsrance and disease in but a
fracticn of that time. The author Of the pamphlet
before us endeavOrs to establish the alarming truth
that ''among all the wines for commerce now for
sale and in in this country such an article as the
pure, unmixed juice Of the grape is almtst il not
altogether unknown" He refers to the printing Of
receipts for making counterfeit liquors Of every de-
scrption, the price of SERIES designed for the
Western trade, being i've dOIars-Wines, brandy,
rum and gin, being made at pleasure from common
whisky. The statement is made on the authority
of Prof C. A. Lee, of New York, that cheap Ma
deira is made here, by extracting the oils from COM
mon whisky and passing it through carbon. There
are immense establishments in this city, he Gays,
devoted to this branch Of business. Prof Lee fur
ther says: "The trade in empty wine casks ia this
city with the Custom House mark and certificate is
immense; the same casks being replsnished again
and again, and always accompanied by that inalli-
bic test OF genuneness, the Custom House eertl6-
cate" There is also in this neighborhood, it is
stated, extensive mauufaetOry Of wine casks,
which made closely to initiate the foreign, as
to deceive experienced dealers. -''' .''-
Hiram Cox NJ. D., of Cincinnati, is quoted as
having analysed in that city sixteen lots Of wne Of
different varieties, which did not contain one drop
of the juice Of the graPe. The basis Of the Port
wine for example, was diluted with sulphurie acid
colored with elderberry juice with aurn, with sugar
and neutral spirits. The basis of the Sherry wine
was sort of pale malt, sulpLuric acid from the
bitter almond oil, with percentage Of alcoholic
spirits from brandy. The basis of the Madeira was
decoction of hops, with sulphuric acid. honey,
spirits Of Jamaica rum &C. President Mott in his
published lectures in relation to this subject speaks
of The examination, by the assignee, Of the paper
Of house which had suspended payment, resulting
in the discovery that many hundred barrels Of cider
had been purchased duriog the previous year, but
none Of wine; yet nothing but wine had been sold
Many other similar facts recoualed, and exten
sive quotations. made from foreign periodicals. and
other authorities, showing that adultersion is prae
tieed in both England ami France, to an extent not
readily credited.
This subject ihould receive earnest attention.
for it is apparent that the evils of nIenperance are
becoming fear ully aggravated by the substitution of
poisonous compounds for the alcoholic liquors for
merly used; and the working classes, who are the
greatest sufferers, need to be better informed as to
the true character Of their stimulating beverages
Legislation, too can be employed with advantage in
this dirsciou. One confederation entitled TO some
weight is, that direct encouragement will thus be
given 10 the manufacture Of pure wines from native
fruit.