Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1859-07-20
From the Baltimore Clipper.
Adulteration Of Liquors.

bch1nL. II duTerLS 10 SuDJecI LnaE Is just
now deservedly attracting public attention,
and it contains really useful information in
regard to great evil by which all classes
n the community are more or less cursed.
The existence Of poisonous ingredients in
much Of the liquor daily consumed By our
cisizens = nnqsastionahle The means Of
detecting the presence Of these poisons are
detailed by DIR. H, and the description
given of their effects upon the mind and
body, ought to be sufficient to deter sane
men from voluntarily seeking idiocy, in
sanity and certain death by their use
The letter was laid before the Grand Jury
by Judge Stump, and upon the adjourn
ment of that body was kindly furnished to
us for publication:
BALTIMORE, June 9th, 1859.
To HIS Honor Henry Stump, the Judqe
Of the Criminal Court of Baltimore city
S1R:-Protracted illness and urgent en-
gagements must be my apology for not
sooner responding to the inquiry which
some months ago you made, and have re-
Gently renewed to me.
In compliance with your request, pro-
pose nothing more than to give you a
brief summary of the analysis, which, from
time to time, have made of whiskey and
other liquors, their authorizations, intention
ally made, and their deleterious compounds
produced in the progress of distillation.
. 1t might be promised that if one of the
principal characteristics of our epoch in a
commercial point of view, is the immense
progress which every department of pro-
ductive industry has achieved, it ought to
be admitted that the arts of adulteration
and sophistication have more than kept
pace with that progress. And it could be
added with perfect truth, that these arts
! have invaded the luvuries of the rich and
! the necessities of the poor: raiment, food
medicines, furniture, the means of life, and
the requirements of disease, all that can be
mixed, twisted, ground, pulverized, worn
pressed-all articles of consumption il
trade, in manufactures, in the arts, in 3
word, all that can be made matter of con,
naerce, and be sold, is adulterated, falsifed
disguised and drugged. Incertitude anc
falsehood are everywhere the sure brands
on packages. The very necessaries of lift
are mixed with poisonous substances ant
medicine sold to cure the diseases produc
ed By them, are frequently SO adulterated
as to be equally injurious with the substan
ces whose effects they were prescribed t.
cure. Almost all of the liquors sold in ou
markets are adulterated more or less, AM
some of them are injurious from want Q
skill in the manufacture, or by carryin.
the process of distillation too far.
| have examined many specimens @
whiskey, and have found in most of them
the existence of ftsl oil (produced by i'm
proper distillation) and sulphuric acid
The latter is an Intentional adulteration.
The presence of fusi oil in whiskey ma
be detected by the following distinct, sens
BILE properties.
First as to Smell. This is burning an
pungent with slight tinge of putridit,
Whiskey or brandy, which contains tn
oil, has hot, burning and scalding tast
The burning sensation is different frol
that produced by hot water, cayenne PEI
per, mustard, or most of the vegetable suI
stances. Its vapor breathed for a sho
time produces asthmatic pain, with coue
and vomiting. Its effects on the stomac
are, first that of a burning heat which MI
be relieved by an instant drop of Geld W
ter, or vomiting will ensue and be accor
panied with the eructation of viscid frott
mucus from the stomach and throat.
subsequent effect is to produce dyspepsi
head ache, sickness of the stomach wi
great mental and physical prostration, al
all the evils incident to want of nutritio
depraved secretions of the liver, and ge
, eral disorder OF the digestive organs.
also materially lessons the quantity of urr
and makes it high-colored and loads
with urea uric acid. .....
Sulphuric acid is used in adulteratio
Whiskey or brandy adulterated with Il
acid may be distinguished by its cooli
taste on the tongue, and its agreeable al
matte odor. 1t neither heats the stoma
nor burns the tongue; its physyliogi'
, influence, however, is very deleterious, pl
{ ducing sort of delirium analogous to Il
produced by laughing gas, and deprivil
tOI d 6iiHC3 luO IOOiplOu0 VI Vi ali I'LL
{ tai or physical control. The first effect
!. one of wild, jubilant delirium, then stup
) and frequently total Inconsistencies
D lows.
: To a mind like yours, familiar W
:; medical jurisprudence, | know the enqu
n will readily suggest itself, whether per
!; IN justice, should be punished for cri
d committed when under the influence OF
n .qaor so adulterated. Ought not the .
: atty of the law to visit the fabricator
e the cause of crime? As Judge YOU
II much better answer the question. A
IF leitizea, and man of some experienc
e have no hesitation in saying that he ,
y commences the 'fray' ought to take
sblows. But lawyers and legislators n
lie fix the matter.
Sc There is popular error that strych,
sr is placed in whiskey.. Wheninyestiga
es the nature aud cure for the hog, choIer
Sc had abundant opportunity for informal
to on this subject, and can safely say that
n 1rot used in whiskey or brandy. 1t c.
" effect nothing if used, and could not
te proftably employed. 1t is used in
ale and all Of the malt liquors for the
pose of imparting bitterness, but in q
tics so small as not to occasion injury
as those who make use of them.
to have used no technical words in
short communication, and for the re