Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-02-09
(T0 BE CONTINUED
A1ulteration of Liquors.

VA
A letter from Dr. Hiram Cox official Inspec-
tor Of Liquors at Cincinnati, has been publish
ed, which contains some remarkable statements
relative to the adulteratlon of liquors. He says
that Cincinnati druggist, DESTROYS of obtain
ing some pure liquor as medicinal article, pur-
chased in New York two half pipes of extra
''Seisnette brandy, 'one pale and the other dark.
He called the Doctor attention to his " beau
tiful pure brandy" which the Doctor at once
tested by inserting some blue " litmus' paper.
1t came out as red as scarlet. lie then put pol
ished " spatula' Gan instrument for spreading
IlAsters) into u tumher 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 coating Of rust appeared, which when re-
moved left a copper coat almost as thick as If it
hat been plated. A chemical analysis of these
liquors resulted as follows;
s. First sample (dark) So per cent. alcoholic
pirits by volume and Al PER cent. by weight;
specific gravity O945. The tests Indicate SUI
phurir Acid Nitric Acid, Nitric Ether, Prusac
Acid. Guinea Pepper and an abundance of Fu-
M OIL BdSe-common whiskcy, not one drop
of @ine.
Second sample, (pale,) 81 per cent, alcoholic
spirits by volume so per cent. by weight; spe-
clGc gravity O.955. This article has the same
authorizations lis the first, hut in greater abun.
dance, with the addition Of Cdtchuc.'
Tle druggist was forbidden to sell the brandy
and IN consequence refused to pay the New York
dealer for it, The latter sued him in the Cln-
cilnat courts but lost his casa, the poisonous
character of the liquor being fully demonstrat.
ed. Dr.. Cox remarks
e" was appointed to the Office of Chemical
Inspector on the 10Th day of March 1855
Since then have made upwards Of 600 inspec-
tons of stores, and lots of liquors of every
variety, and positively assert that 90 per cent of
all that have analysed were aduIterated with
the most perricious and poisonous ingredients
Since my appointment have, as physician to
the Probate Court, examined upward of 400 in
same cases, two-thlrds of which number became
insane from drinking the poisonous liquors sold
at the grOggeries and taycrns of our city and
country. Many Of them were boys of from Is
to 20 years of age, some ofwhom were laboring
under hereditary taint-and perhaps to many
Of them the mental arrangement would never
have been developed had they not drank of those
poisonous decoctions."
The following incident shows what sort of Ii
quor is furnished to the poor fellows who fir e.
quent low groceries:
I" called at u grocery store one day, where
liquor also is kept. couple of Irishmen came
in while was there and called for some whis-
key, and the first drank, and the moment he
drank the tears flowed freely, while he at the
same time caught his breath like one suffocated
or strangling, When he could speak, he says
to his companion--' Och, Michael. but this is
warming to the stomach Michael drank and
went through like contortons, with the remark,
WOuldn it be foine in u cowld frhosty morn
ing?"
After they had drank asked the landlord to
pour me out little in tumbler, in which |
dipped a-slip of litmus paper, which was nc
sooner wet than it put ON scarlet hue went
to my Office, got my instruments and examined
it. found it had II per cent. alcoholic spir.
its by weight, wnen it should have had 40 pei
cent. to be proof, and the difference in per cent
age made up by Sulphuric Acid, Red Pepper
PsEtOry, COstic POttusa and Brucine, one o
the salts Of NucS VOinice, commonly called
Nux Vomica. One pint of such liquor woult
kill the strongest man."