New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1867-10-23

fIHE LIQUORS of Commerce-poisonoob
l. Stimulants in the Sick Room.-The vile
art of adulteratiDg alcoholic liquors was prae-
ticed in Greece and Rome more than two cen
turtles ago, and then, as now, the Medical
Faculty denounced it, and lamented the diff
Guilty of procuring pure and wholesome stimu
lants for the sick.
HippOcrates called attention To the tricks Of
the Athenian winners four centuries before the
Christian era. Galen, somewhat later, sternly
rebuked the wine merchants of Rome for tam
pering with the juice of the grape. There was
no distilled liquors in those days, and many of
the subtle posOns at present used by liquor
mixers were unknown, but considering their
knowledge and oppol tunities, the adulterators
of the "classic ages" showed considerable
adroitness in their nefarious calling Lead,
lime, gypsum, and sea-water were put into new
wine by the Roman dealers, and it was boiled
and left to cool in metal vessels, by way OF
improving its taste and giving it transparency
To this day some of the Mediterranean wines
are subjected to a similar process. All the
wines of Europe are more or less adulterated
before they leave first hands," and as TO the
stuff commonly retailed in this country under
the name of Port, Sherry, Madeira, &c, &c,
aloe-juice, decoction of logwood, powder OF
catechu, alum, plaster of Paris, lead, litharee
carbonate of soda, oil Of almonds, cider, and
bad rum, may be mentioned as among then,
pleasant ingredients.
But it is In the connection Of ''spirituous H.
quOrsr that the adultcratOrs of this generation
particularly excel The tricks of the Greek
and Roman winners were mere childs play b.
theirs. Shychnine, sulphuric acid, sugar Of
lead, jalap, Opiates, and variety OF pungent
alkalies are among the delicacies that enter
into the composition of ordinary BARRON
liduors,p and some of them consist almost
wholly of pernIclous chemicals with small
admixture of unrectifed spirit No wonder
under such circumstances. that tavern brandy,
rum, gin, and whisky, carry death ana mad
ness In their train. No wonder, Also that phy.
sicians hare lost confidence IN The liquors Of CON.
merce, and are afraid to use them.
Stimulants, however. are as necessary IN
medical practice as febrifuSes, or cathartics, OF
anodynes, or Alternatives, or any other OF the re-
cognized specifics for disease. The great ques-
ton is, can q pure stimHfdnt De mar We say
IL can. We assert that Hostetters Stomach Bit
tiers, the alcoholic basis, OF Wmch Is the essence
of sound MonOngaheia Rye, Is as pure Stima-
liant as it Is possible tor,humdn skill to mafac-
tire. Ii is, however, something more and
better than this, TO w.t. judlcously medicdted
stimulant, in which the qualifying ingredients
are the finest stOmachlc, aperlent, alternative
and anti-biliOus herbs roots and gums. These
vegetable constituents modify and control tie
effect of the spirituOus elements, and render the
Bitters the safest, mldest, and most effective
invigOrant at present in use.
1t may be remarked, perhaps, that tins Is an
| easy thing to say-but how is it TO be prOvedi
! To this we have only to reply that cOrrobora
tive testimony from high scientific sources, and
from citizens of good standing in every prOtes
sion and calling, extending over a period OF
more than twenty-five years, Is at the service
of whom it may concern. Volumes oil thu
testimony have been published, and there
remains at least an equal amount as yet IN
printed:
For the melancholy consequences which en-
sue from the sale of unwhOlesOme compounds
! bearing the names OF the various spurious
| liquors. the powers that be are in some degree
responsible Deriving as it does, large rev
enue from the importation and manufacture OF
alcoholic beverages, 1t Is manlteSty the dhls
of the General Government to protect the
people as far as possible against the lnt'OduS,
ton of DOisORs into their daily drink. SIN
more imperative is the obligation TO shield the
sick from the peril of being killed or injured Dy
pernicious eXctants, administered as picdicih~
Inspection and taxation ought, IN tins matter
90 hand in hand, and in all cases or aduitera-
ton. the adultered article instead OF being
taxed should he destroyed. Every tncture ana
extract containing, or purporting to contain al
cohol should be examined by competent scien-
tifc men, and not permitted 10 go mo Tue
market until its purity has been authorta-
tiyely certified The sanitary interests OF the
community should be paramount to the hnan-
cial interests of the Goyernment-the puDlh
health being of infinitely more Importance
than the public revenue. But no such pro
tective supervision Is exercised elther ny the
central power at Washington OF Dy tlle oeae
Governments The Internal Revenue assessors
and collectors simply demand their tax, Know
ing nothing about the wholesomeness or IN
wholesOmeness of the article upon when II !
levied the Custom House Collectors INSIST on
noyment Of the duties required by law on M
norted liouors. but how much or how little
foreign poison there may be in each caSk OF
luncheon il is not their business to ascertain,
Congress seems To have entirely oyeilook~
its function of public protection IN legslalhs
on the liquor question. State Leglslatuirs
have been equally remiss. Many OF them nave
tried Prohibition and failed. No one OF them,
so far as we are aware, has endeaVofed
mitigate the evils of which they have all cob
planned, by instituting ngld system Oh III
specti0n.
odopted as an experiment lt would at least
prevent unprincipled dealers from palmlng Oh
upon the working classes, to an unlimited OK
tent. the fiery fluids which ill our jails, poor
houses, hospitals lunatic asylums ana innu
Were such regulation in force We should
have no need to explain the nature and value
of our preparation through the public pres
The report of the inspecting officers would be
our sufficient voucher-a stronger advertise,
ment than any we could frame. Gladly would
we welcome the official agents of the Govern,
ment-State OF Federal-to our factory, ana
challenge their closest scrutiny, their sharpest
tests. An inspection law of the kind indicated
would, if cOmpetently administered, be one al
the most useful enactments ever placed on , our
statute books. 1t would be conservative anAe
of health and morals.