Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-02-03
ADrLTERATION oF LIQUORs.

A lettcr from DR.. Hiram Cox official in
spcctor Of Liquor at Cincinnati. has been pub
lished, which contains some remarkable state
ments relative to the adulteration Of liquors.
He says that a Cincinnati druggist, desirons
Of obtaining some pure liquors as medicinal
article, purchased in New York two pipes OF
extra Seignette brandy one pale and the
other dark. He called the Doctors attention
TO his " beautiful pure brandy which the
Doctor at once tested by inserting some blue
litimus paper. II came out as red as scarlet.
He then put polished spatula, IAN instru-
ment for spreading plasters,) into tumbler
containing half gill Of the liquor, allowing
it to remain fifteen minutes, at the end OF
which time the liquor was black as ink. The
spatula corroded, and when dried thick coat
ing of rust appeared, which, when removed,
left a copper coat almost as thick as II it had
been plated A chemical analysis Of these
liquors resulted as follows;
First sample dark s. per cent alcoholic spirits by
volume, Al per cent by weight specific gravity gt5-
the tests indicate SdDhuric Acid Nitric dcid, Miro
Ether, Putssic Acd. Guinea Pepper and an abundance
" FlsH OIL Base-commou whiskey, and not one drop
Of wine.
Second sample Cpalc) 81 per cent alcoholic spirits BY
ynlume, 40 per cent By weight specific gravity 95i
This article has the adueratous Of The hts but
in greater abundance, with the addition cf Caiehnr
brandy, and in consequence refused to pay the
New York dealer for it. The latter sued him
in the Cincinnati courts. but lost his cose, the
poisonous character of the liquor being fully
demonstrated DR.. Cox remarks
d" appointed 20 the office Of Chemical Inspector
the 18th dav Of March. 1856 Since then have madt
upwards OF GOl inspections Of stores and lots of liquors
Of every variety and positively assert that 80 per cent of
all that have analyzed adulterhicd WIN the most
urrnci1us and poisonous Ingredients since my APP
poutnen have. physician to the Probate Court eH
amued upwards Of 400 insane cases. twuthirds OF which
number became insane from drinking the poisouou'
liquors sold the rroggcres and avcrus ot our city ana
country. Manv of them boys from 10 20 70 years
taint-and perhaps u may Of them Tie mental deranse
neut would never have been developed bad they NOT
drank Of those poisonous decoctions.'
The following incident shows what sort o
liquor is furnished to the poor fellows who
4 heqaont low groggeries
" called al grocery store one DAY, where liquor also
is kept couple OF lfishmeu came n while was there
aud called for SOME whskey aud The hrsi drank ana th'
moment he drank the flowed freely while he th'
Cling. When be could speai,he says TO his companion
"Orh, Michael but this is warming 90 the stoma Pa y
Michael drank and and went through like contoriions
with the remark, Wouldn't it be foine Of cowd irost
morning -
Amer mcv had drank asked the landlord to pour m
out littic 90 tIuher, in which dipped slip of iiti
mus paper. which no sooner wet than il put on
scarlet hue. went 20 my Office, grt ny instruments
examined it found it had II per cent alcoholic spirit
iv weight when IL should have had ~ per cent 10 b
Saipauric dcid Ret Pepper, He'iSorv. Cof'c Potiao
and Byscine Of the salts Of Nucis ronca, common
lr called Nux Nomca. Que pint of such liquor wou
Kill the strongest man"