The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1867-02-08
Don't Buy the BiHers.

Bfore Us Is religious Journal, having 4
':bitters' advertised flamin.ly in il whole
column. and the editor endorses and curn-
mendS it, because the manufacturers assert
that it contains no alcohol. Yet from a
bottle of that same bitters, bought of one
of its agents, We readily extracted IL per
cent. of pure alcohol. without close an-
aly>is. Common whiskey, by similar
incomplete analysis. yielded only 90 per
cent. Of pure alcohol. A bottle of mate
rial, sold under the name of Temperance
Bitlers," yielded l l per cent. Of alcohol by
the same treatment. A few years ago we
gathered bottles Of every kind of bilters
we could find advertised and sold. and
they every one yielded alcohol, the lowest
8 per cent, the highest a ] Per cent. TIE
truth Is, all these various biiters 50 exten-
sivell advertised. Ito the amoun; of more
than il million dollars a year, are cheap
whi>key or gin. diluted with wafer ami
adulterated with little bitter extract,
some ot them having Il small quantity OF
rhubarb and other drugs added. The Bit
ter principle extracted from Genlian roct,
Peruvian bark, etc, Is sometimes useful
in Gases of weak digestion, or Il debilitated
stated OF the system ii properly taken un-
der medical advice. and only usel tempo
rarily. But the general Use Of these ad-
vertiSed Lltters is dom. an immense. an
incalculable injury, not only by being
wrongly taken, and be.eiting necessity
for regular stimulants, but they are Great
ing and extending an appetite for other
alcoholic liquors. which promises 10 make
us a nation of drunkard>. \ person buys
bottle, takes little, is stimulated by
the alcohol, and what of hitiers they con-
tam, and Temporarily Y ''icels better" H..
continues the Use, increases the dose, when
the reaction occurs. and usually falls into
drinking habits.
\ gentleman recently informed US that
he counted l21 bottles in his attic, which
had been empticd OF one Kind OF bitiers by
his now invalid wife, and other members
Of the family. during four years pa>i
For awhile they seemed 10 help her, nut
iatlery >lc had experienced unpleasant
effects from the large doses required 10
keep her up, and >hc Was now depending
upon Bourbon whi>key, The stimulating
effect of the alcoholic bittcr> when iir>;
used. led him To dismiss her plivsicl IN.
She Is ROW looking forward 10 the grayc
rs near at hand, hcrphvsician. c-;i.vd back
too Late. @lvc> her no hope Of lie. "Do"
said onc friend. .'ln expose these wor>c
than humbug bitter Nv children, :lccil>-
toned TO the dailv Use OF some of mothers
bi;lcrS. are now always sick, ii not .iyen
some pregnant Siimmlanis" That friend
i :, wealthy mvrchIn: of this city. and
the bi,tcr> were first introduced INTO hi-
family hv claiimg advertisement in bis
i;,voriic reii@i journal.
We assert positively that ali lie ",,it-
.crs' advertised contain 4 considerable
percentage of alcohol ihcy woali not
keep without If. Tnrir constant Use Is al
ways detrimental ami dangerous their
u>c at all is OF doubtful utility they are
cheaplv made, an'l sold III an enormous
profit. and no one should cuumiemance
their sale. or assist their manufacturers in
humbug.ing the ignorant. 10y ever pur-
chasing Il single bottle. Ii :. temporary
wine Is neede,l-and it should b. only
tcmporary-set a reliable physician 10
prescribe ii, AMI the extent of it> Use.
Ills bill. and that of the druggi>t will be
far cheaper and more effective. and inf
nitclv safer than the trial OF any hing of
secret composition put up III bottles. ana
sold by specinus advertisements
cm Iytcu't'Utst,