Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-07-06

rus LiouoRs OF COMMERCE..
POISONOUS sTlMULANrs IN THE sicx Roon
The vile art Of adulterssing alcoholic uauids
was practccd in 0reecc and Rome more than
twcceuturies ago. and then. NJ now. the Medi.
cal Faulty denounced II. and lsmen.ed the dit
dcul'y of procuring pure and wholesome s,imu.
lants for the sick
Hippocratcs called attention to the tricks cf
the Athenisn winners four centuries before the
Christian era. Galen. somewhat later. sterniy
rebaked the wine merchants of Rome for tam
pering with the juice Of the grape. There vas
no distilled liquors ia those d.y,. and many q
the subtle poisous a, present used BY liquor
mixers were unknown, but considering their
knowledge and opportunities the sdultsrasors Of
the ''classic ages showed considerable sdroi,
ness in their asfasious calling. Lead, limo Typ.
sum. and sea-wster were put into new vine by
the Roman dealers. and Il was boiled and lsf, 10
cool 10 metal vessels By way Of improving it's
taste and giving Il Transparency. To thi. day
ONE Of the Mediterranean wines are subjected to
. similar process. All the wines Of Europe are
more or less adulterated before they leave first.
hands, ard as 10 the stsr commonly sesailed in
this country under the names Of Fort sherry
Madeira, ac.. &C.. sloe juice. deccct,on Of log
wood. powder Of catcher. alum. plaster Of paris.
lead. lithorge, carbonate of soda, oil of almonds
cider and bad rum, may be mentioned a. among
their rleasanss ingredients
But It IL in the connection Of "spiritucus
liquors that the adultsrators Of this generation
PARTICULAR. excel The tricks Of the Greek and
Ror an winners we're mere child . play 10 theirs
strychnine. sulphuric acid. sugar OF lead, jaisp.
opiases. and variety Of pungcn. alhalies are
among the dclicacss that enter into the compo-
elton Of ordinary "bar; room liquors" and some
chemicals witty a small aimiaiure Of unrectihed
spirit. No wonder. under such circumstances.
that tavern brandy. rum gin and whisky. carry
eeata aud madness in their train. No wonder.
also. that ,,Aysicians hare less confidence IL "a.
LYsovs u comp,srs and are AFRAID to Me than.
Biimulant., however. are ~ necessary In med
ical practice o. febrifuges. or catoartics. or
dynes. or Alternatives, or any other Of the iecog
nired specifics for disease. The great question
is. can pure stimulant be sads We say II can
We assert that nosrxsssas SscsAcs Bsrras-.
che alcoholic basis Of which h the eAsencc 81
sound Monongahsli Rye, 10 ss pure stimsianf
asst is possibIe (or. Asman skil TO MANUFACTURE.
II is, however, soastning more and better than
this. TO wit. Judiciously medcsted stimulant.
in which the qualify ing nsr sdients are the finest
stomachie. sperient. alternative. and snii-bilious
herbs. roots and gums. These vegetable con
stituents modify aud control the effect Of the
spirituous clements. and render the Btters tho
safest. mildest and most effective invigorant ~
present in7nse.
Il may be remarked. perhaps. thaA this - an
easy thing 70 ssy-bu. how - IL to b proveds
To this We have only to.reply thsa corsobosative
testimony from high scientific sources, aad from
citizens Of good standing in every profession
aud calling. extending over period Of more than
twenty five years. 10 81 the service Of whom II
may concern. Volumes Of this testimony have
been published. and there remains at lesst
equal amount Al yet imprinted.
For the melancholy consequences which ensue
from the sale Of INV wholesome compounds bear
ing The names Of the various spirituous liquors.
the powers that be ere in some degree RESPONSE
BILE. Deriving - IL does, q large revenue from
the importation and manufacture Of alcoholic
beverages, il 10 maniiestly the duty Of the Gen
ersl Government 70 protect the people a. fer ~
possible against the introduction Of poisons into
their daily drink. Still more imperative il the
obligation 20 shield the sick from the peril Of be-
ing killed or injured by pernicious eicitants. I'd
minis.cred ~ medicines. Inspection ard tara
| ton ought in this mstter. 90 hand in hand. aud
in oil cases Of adulterston, the adulserated srti
Gle ,nstesd Of being taxed should be destroyed.
Every tncture aud extract cont aiming or purpor
ting to contain alcohol. should be examined by
4 Al
into the market until its purity has been suthor-
itstively certified. The sanitary Interests Of the
community should be paramount 70 the financial
| interests of the Government-the public health
being Of infinitely more importance than the
public revenue. But no such productive super
| vision is exercised either by the central power
| It W ashingson or by the State Governments =
| Tho Internal Revenue assessors. and collectors
simply demand their tag. knowing nothing shout
| the wholeAomeness unwholesomeness OF the
| article upon which u In levied the Custom
House Coileetors insist on peymest Of the duties
| required BY law ON impcaied liquors. but how
much or how little foreign poison there may 10
in each cask or puncheon Il Is not their business
TO ascertain. Congress seems to have entirely
overlooked its function Of public protection in
legislating on the liquor question. State Legis
Iatures have been equally rem,ss. Many Of them
have tried prohibition. and failed No one Of
them, 40 far N ~ are aware, has endeavored to
mitigate the evils Of which they have oil com
planned b. institutng rigid svstem Of inspection
We should be glad to see such system
adopted Is an experiment. II would q lssst
prevent u,psineiplsd dealers from palmisg "a.
upon the working classes, to an unlimited sa-
tent, the fiery fluids which nli our jsiis. poor
houses hospitals, lunstic asylums. and innsmss
able graves. with miserable victims.
Were such regulation in force we should
have no need 10 explain the nature and value Of
our preparation though the public psees. The
report Of the inspecting officers would b sss
sudieient vouchers stronger advertisement
tAaa any ~ could frame. Gladly would -
welcome the ofBsisl agents Of the 0overnnsst-
State or Fedsrsl-to our factory, and challenge
their closest scrutiny. their sharpest tests. Al
inspection Law Of the Kind indicated could. "
compesentlv sdministsrsd. b one Of The nost