Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1867-07-13

TIE liQuoRs or COMMERCE.
foisoSorssriNrlASrsl IN TINE SICK ROOM
- vile ars y adai.srssins alcoholic ,,..,s.
~a' pracs'ced in Greece and Rome more TIM,
two centuries age. and then. as now. tho Med,
cal Faculty denounced il. and lsmcn,ea the an.
hcnlsy Of procuring pure and wholesome ,,ir,.
lan.s for the sick.
Htppocrstes called attention 10 the tricks Of
the Athenian winners sour eeutn-ie, before the
Christian era. GAlen. somewhat later, stsrniy
rebuksd the wine merchants OK Rome for tam
pering with the Juice Of the grape, There was
No distilled iisasrs in those days. and many OF
the sabsls poiseas at present used nv liquor
MIXERS were ankncwn. but o,nsidesiss their
knowledge and opportunities the adul.erasors az
the ''clasaie sGcs' showed considerable adorit-
xsaa 10 their ncfaf icus calling. Lead. lime. cyp.
sun. asd sea-water were pu, into new vine BY
ths noman dsaiers. end Il Was boiled and lett TO
eeel IN sstalI ysssels By way Of Improving Us
taste and giving Il tsanspssency. To this cay
scne II the MedasessMsas wsuse arc subjected, to
simiiss process. All the wines OF Europe are
more O. less adulterated before they leave "hrs,.
hands, and asso the ssSF COMMONLY rcsailcd In
tAis country under the names Of Fort, sherry,
MADEIRA. 49,, Ar., sios. Juice. decoet,en 81 log.
wood, powder Of ca,cheu, alum, plaster or paris,
leaA. lithorgs. carbonate Of soda, oil Of almonds
cider and bad rum, may be mentioned ~ among
their pleasaats ingredients,
But II 10 in the concoc,ion OF "spiri;uous
Kquors" that the adulseratcrs Of this generation
part,culari excel. The tricks Of the Greek and
Ro an winners were mere child's play 10 theirs
strychninc. salphuric acid. sugar of lead, jalap.
opia,es. and . variety Of rupgens alksiies are
amane the dei,cacisa thss enter iato the compo-
stion Of ordinary .'har;room liquors. +" and some
Of them consist almost wholly OF peraiciou.
chemicals witty small aimisturc Of unrcctihed
spirit. No wonder, under such circumstances,
that tavern brandy. rum gin and whisky. carry
eeath snd madness in their train. No wonder.
also. that plysiasss Aace ioss so.yssencs N ne
liquors Of commerte and are AFRAID to ae ta,m.
Btimulsnts. however. are ~ necessar, in med.
issl psastiee - febsfsgss, or cstaartics. or ano
dynss, Or Alternatives, or any other Of the recog
nirsd specifics for disease. Tho great question
II, ean puss stimulast b. aads Wessy Il eau
We assert that Ilosrsrssa's Ssosacs Brrrsss.
che slcoholis basia Of which 10 The essence 81
sound Monopgahsli Rye. Ia % pure a sfimuiaat
a. u e rossiSis for Asmam skiu 20 ma~vfacfnrs.
II is. however, somstning more and better than
this. to Wit. Judiciousiy mcdicstcd stimulant.
in which the qualifying mgr ediensa are The fines,
machie. aperient. Alternative. and sn,i-biious
herbs. roots and gums These vegetable con
stitnents modify aud control the effect Of the
| spititnous elements snd render the Bitters the
safest, miidest and most effective invigornnt at
| present ih1nae.
| I, may be remarked. perhaps. that this IL M
easy thing 20 ssy-bu' how Is II 10 be proved
To this 20 have only to reply that corroborstivc
testinony from high scientific soasces. and from
citizens Of good standing in every profession
and calling. extending over period OF more than
twenty tive years. 10 at the service of whom 1t
may concern. Volumes OF thia testimony have
been published, snd there remains st least aD
equal amount as yet imprinted.
FOR the melancholy Consequences which ensue
from the sale Of unwholesornc compounds bear
ing the names Of the various spir tuous liquors.
the powers that be are In some degree RESPONSE
bio. Deriving as IL does. large revenue from
the importation and manufacture Of alcoholic
beverages, IL 10 maniiestly the duty Of the Gen
| ersl Government 20 p'otect the people "a far as
possible against the introduction Of roisons into
their daily dirk. Still mora imperative Is the
obligaaion to shield the sick from the peril of hc
ing killed or injured by pcrncious ercitnnts. ad-
mnis,ersd - medicines. Inspection ard taxa
ton ought, In this matter, 60 hand in hand. and
in oil cases Of adnterstion, the adul,erated arti.
| Gle instead of being taxed should be destroyed.
Every tincture and extract containing or purpcr
ting 10 contain alcohol. should be examined by
competent scientific men. and not permitted to 20
into the market until its parity has been author
itaaiveiy certified. The sanitary Interests OF the
community should be paramount TO the financial
| Interests Of the Government the public health
! being Of infinitely more Importance than the
public revense. But no such protective super
| vision Is exercised either by the central power
| at Washiugton or by the Htate Governments
l The Internal Revenue assessors, and collectors
simply demand their tar, Knowing nothing about
| the wh0lesomeneAs or unwholesomcncss Of the
article upon which u Ia levied the Custom
Hca.s CoIiestors insist on psymest Of the duties
required By law on impcssed liquoss. but how
much or how little foreign poison there may bs
In each cask or puncheou il is not theie business
% ascertain. Congress seems 10 have ent,sely
overlooked its function Of puolic protection in
legislating on the liquor question. etste Legis
lsturss have been equally rcm,ss Many Of them
have tried prohibition, and failed no one Of
them, 10 far a Ne are aware, hes ende TO
mitigate che evils Of which they have oil com
plsinsd ~ inssitutng rigid svstem Of inspection
We should BE- glad 70 sac ssch . system
sdopts1 - - experiment.. u would n least
prevent urpsincipIed dealers from palmng on.
1 upen No. woskisg classes. "a - sslini I'd ex.