Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-07-23
vrnE LIQUORS Or COMMERCE.


rruE LIQUORS Or COMMERCE.
POISONOUS sTrMULAs III IN THE SICK RooN
The vile ar. Of saalters,ipg alcoholic liquids
was prs .ticed in Greece and Rome more than
two centuries age. and then, as nov, the Medi
ell Faculty denounced Il. and lamenied the dif-
heolty of procuring pure aud wholesome snmn-
iants Tor the sick
h'rpccraics called attention 20 the tricks OF
the Aibenian atners four centuries before the
Christian era Galen. someNha, later. sscrniv
reeuked the wine merchants Of Rome for tam.
per'ng With the juice Of the grape. There was
no distilled liquors in those DAYS. and many Of
the subtle poisons at presen, us,a hv l;ouor
mixers we're unknown. but csnsiaerin. their
knowledge and opportunities the adu,,e,.,or. 81
the classic ases" showed considerable adori,
ness in their nefa,ious calling. Lead lime. syn.
sum. and sea-wa'er we're pu, into new vine BIZ
the Roman dealers. and il was boiled and ,,n "a
cool in metal vessels BY way Of Improving Il.
taste and giving IL Transparency. To this day
come Of the Mediterranean wines are subec,edto
similar process. All the wines of Europe are
more or less adulterated before they leave FIRST.
hands. ard asto the s,rii commonly Rotated IN
this country under the names of Port, sherry.
MADEIRA, &C., &c, sloe juice, iccoction Of loq.
wood, powder Of catcher, alum. plaster Of paris.
lead, lithorge, carbonate OF soda. oil IT almonds
cider aud bad rum. nav be mentioned as among
their peasants ingredients.
but IL is in the connection Of "spifitnons
liquors that the adultsrntors of this generation
particular. excel. The tricks Of the Greek aud
Ro an winners were mere child play 20 theirs
Strychninc, suphuric acid, sugar of lead Jaap.
opiates. and variety of pungent alkslies are
among the decaces that enter into the conpo-
| sition II ordinar, ''bar room liquors. and some
OF them consist almost wholly Of peraieicus
chemicals WHY n small aimixt OF unreetihed
spirit. No wonder, under such circumstances.
that tavern brandy, Eim gin and whisky. carry
eeath and madness in THAR train. No wonder.
also, that !,lysicians hare ,s.t confidence IN ns
liquors 81 eop,n,v and arr afsa,a 10 use them.
| Htmulants. however. are - necessary In med
ical practice febrfnges. or cntnartics. or ano.
dynes, or alternatives. or any other Of the iecog
nized specifics for disease. The grea, question
is. can pure stimulant be rad wesay !, can
| We ASSERT that Hosr.rsna's SsoxAcu Brruas.
the alcoholic basis Of which is the essence Of
soupd Monongahell Rye. Is Is pure aiiaulant
asst il possible for. Asman skiH TO manufacture.
II is, however, something more and better than
this, TO wit, a ludiciousIy medcated s,imulan,
in which the qualifying mgr edients are the finest
stomachic. sperient, alternative. and nnti-hillous
herbs. roots and gums. These vegetable con
stitucnts modify aud control the effect Of the
spirituous elements and render the Bittefs the
safest, mildest and most effective invigorun, nj
present in1use.
II may be remarked. perhaps that this is nm
easy thing to say--but how Is It 10 be proved
To this We have only to-rcply that corrobcrative
testimony from high scientific sources. and from
citizens of good standing in every profession
and calling, extending over period OF more than
twenty five years. 10 At the service Of whom IL
may concern Volumes OF this testimony have
been published, and there remains ut least nm
equal amount as yet imprinted
For the melancholy consequences which ensue
from the sale Of unwholesome compounds bear
ing the names Of the various spirItuons liquors.
the powers that be are in some degree RESPONSE
BILE. Deriving as il does, large revenue from
the importation and manufacture of alcoholic
beverages, it is manitestly the duty Of the Cen
eral Government 10 pro,cc, the people as far as
possible against the introduction OF poison- int .
their daily drink. Still NOR. imperative is the
obligation 20 shield the sick from the peril OF BIO
ing killed or injured by perncious escitants. adj
ministered ~ medicines. Inspection ard taSs
ton ought, In this matter, 90 hand in hand. and
in all cases Of adulteration the adnltersted arti
Gle instead Of being taxed should be destroyed.
Every tincture aud extract containing or putpor
ting TO contain alcohol, should be examined by
competent scientific men, and not permitted to 20
into the market until it's purity has been author
itatively certified. The sanitary Interests Of the
community should be paramount TO the iinsncial
interests of the Government the public health
being Of infinitely more importance than tbs
public revenue. But no such protective super
vision is exercised either bv the central power
at W sshington or by the State Governments. -
The lntsrnsl Revenue assessors. and collectors
simply demand their tax, knowing nothing about
the wholesomeness or unwholesomeness Of the
article upon which II is levied ihe Custom
House Collectors insist on payment Of the dutie,
required BY law on impcs,ed liquors. but how
much or how little foreign poison there may b,
in each cask puncheon il is not their busine 3,
to ASCERTAIN. Congress seems 10 have entirely
overlooked its function OF public protection in
> legislating on the liquor question. State Legis
latures have been equally rem,.s Many Of then
have tried prohibition, and failed No one o.
them, SO far as we are aware, has endeavored tc
mitigate thc evils Of which they have all com
planned by institutng rigid system Of inspection
We should be glad to see such . system
|, adopted as nm experiment. II would at leas
prevent u,principled dealers from palming of
upon the working classes. to an unlimi ed ex
tent, the fiery fluids which FIJI our jals, poor
houses. hospitals, lunste asylums. and innumer
able graves. with miserable victims.
Z Were such . regulation in force We SHOULD
have no need to explain the nature and value o
our preparation though the public prees The
. report of the inspecting officers would be Out
sufficient vouchers stronger Advertisement
q than any We could frame. Gladly would "
welcome the official agents Of the Government
State Or Fcdsral-to our factory. and challenge
D their closest scrutiny, their sharpest tests An
inspection law Of the Kind indicated would. !
competently administered. Be one Of the NOS
useful enactments ever placed on our statute
! books. II would Be conservative alike Of heslii